By heather on Friday, January 05, 2001 - 12:59 pm:

does anyone use voice activated software- does it make studing any easier-what are its other uses? is it worth the money? also has anyone got any hints on help with studying? i had extra time and a scribe when i was doing my 'a' levels but find typing and hand writing timely, painful and uncomfortable. it hurts my wrists, back, elbows, shoulders and neck.
thanks
heather

By Geri on Friday, January 05, 2001 - 01:20 pm:

Hi, I answered your question in the other discussion, but don't buy DragonDictate - its really not that good.
I think that the software 'learns' how you pronounce words the more you use it, but generally I found it to be a painfully slow way of getting text on the computer. I wanted to use it for writing assignments/letters etc. quickly (because I'm studying for a-levels at the moment too). In the end I just got fed up and went back to typing. Maybe there are some better programs around now though . .

By heather on Friday, January 05, 2001 - 02:30 pm:

Geri-thanks for replying to both my last messages about the software. i won't try the DragonDictate then but if you think of anything else let me know could you? how are your 'a' levels going? do you find that the writing and stuff is a pain inthe bum? about the extra time-are you planning on asking for it?it was really helpful as was the scribe and the special need support staff at my college were really helpful. i just had to get a letter from my GP to state that i would find it difficult to write for long periods of time etc. if this is the case for you the exam board will allow the time. if not, its worth bearing in mind because my wrists didn't give me hardly any grief until last year. maybe it was all the studying i was doing- that would explain why they didn't bother me at school- i never did any work there!!
good luck with the studies
heather

By Geri on Sunday, January 07, 2001 - 08:53 am:

Hi heather, how are you doing?
At the moment I'm really bogged down with coursework for the a-levels because I'm in the final year (and similar to you, I didn't work so hard in the first year), and also have loads of exams coming up - argh really nervous!!
I am quite lucky in that I dont have any pain with my hypemobility, apart from if something moves wrongly then theres just a sudden pain but nothing lasting, some stiffness (cured with lots of exercise) and much cracking. Then again, all the writing does make my wrists ache in exams, but i think thats quite normal because I see a lot of people shaking their wrists in the exam hall! Mostly sitting at the computer typing all day makes my back and shoulders ache - they do at the moment even, but its something I've got to just put up with I think ...

I did think of something else the other day that could help you though, btw are you at Uni? Because I only know about one brand of software there might be others around that work a lot better. Why not try downloading some demo's from the Internet or maybe buying a PC magazine with a demo disk on the front? How about asking with your tutors if you could submitt work on a tape/dictaphone, so that there wouldn't be any typing?
Hope this helps, take care
Geri

By heather on Sunday, January 07, 2001 - 02:23 pm:

hi Geri- i'm not at uni yet. i'm still working towards that, i've spent loads of time having babies( long story read one of my other messages on the tree view thing- it takes ages to explain), but i'll give your ideas a go. i'm quite new to the internet so am only just getting to know what i can do/get with it. on the subject of your back/shoulders aching, i have this cushion that my mum brought for me which buzzes when you lean on it- this causes a massage type effect. it does help and also supports you when you're sat at a desk. it helps you to sit with the proper posture. i can ask my mum where she got it from if you'd like.
hope to hear from you soon
heather

By Geri on Monday, January 08, 2001 - 02:02 pm:

Having babies! eek I love children but I don't think I'd have any until about I'm about 35 or something! (being a typical teenager here)
That cushion sounds brilliant, if you could ask your mum then that would be so helpful - thanks. I think it would really help because I've got to spend so much time at this computer recently. It doesn't do the upper/middle back much good, especially when it still aches from the previous day but know you have to sit at the computer again until all the works done.
What are studying for? (hope you don't mind me being nosey) and what do you want to do?
Oh, hang on, just thought of something. Do you live in the UK? because if you're in the US its unlikely that I could get that massage cushion as I'm in the UK.
Thanks again, take care
Geri

By heather on Wednesday, January 10, 2001 - 04:01 am:

Geri- the cushion can be got from pain clinics( i think you'll need a referal to one of those) but my mum says that she bought mine from the local market! it had an order sheet in it so i'm going to hunt around and see if i can find it. i'm sure i've got it because i don't like throwing things away but this means my house has cupboards full of stuff i don't need! my dad goes to a pain clinic and is there at the end of the month so he's going to get an order form/address.
in answer to your questions- i'm in the uk and i'm studying an early years care and education course and am about to start a youth care nvq too.
when my daughter goes to school i'm going to do my degree in psychology.
i'll get back to you when i've got the address
heather

By Geri on Friday, January 12, 2001 - 10:13 am:

Hi there, (sorry i took ages to reply), thanks when you find the address that would be great. Psychology sounds interesting, I nearly did that for one of my A-levels, but it looked a bit difficult b/c theres so much theory!
Anyway, thanks again. Hope the course goes well
Geri

By heather on Monday, January 15, 2001 - 01:07 pm:

Geri- i'm still here, just having to trawl through all my "filed" papers to find the order form
heather

By heather on Friday, February 02, 2001 - 02:37 pm:

Geri- i can't find the address for the cushion, but i'm still on the case. hope the works going well.
heather

By Barb on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 03:11 pm:

There are lots of voice dictation programs available.

Conversay: Voice Recognition Software
http://www.conversa.com/

Dragon Systems: Voice Recognition Software
http://www.dragonsys.com/

Freedom of Speech: Adaptive Computer Technology
http://store.yahoo.com/fos/

Hands-Off Computing
http://www.zdnet.com/products/stories/reviews/0,4161,2331859,00.html

IBM Voice Systems
http://www-4.ibm.com/software/speech/

Speaking to Write: Learn about this federally-funded project which explores the use of speech recognition technology by secondary students with disabilities.
http://www.edc.org/spk2wrt/

Study methods that have helped me are:

1) Read all materials before class so you are not having to struggle with new concepts and keep notes.

2) Get a note-taker to provide notes for you.

3) If you have a note-taker, use voice dictation software to transcribe the notes onto your computer. Reading the notes reinforces the material.

4) Request extended test time and a computer for written exams.

5) If there are lecture handouts or presentation materials, request an advance copy.