[access-uk] Re: Review: NovaTalk - Screen reader/magnifier and enhanced PC control by voice
- From: "Eleanor Burke" <eleanorburke@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2012 11:16:43 +0100
Review: NovaTalk - Screen reader/magnifier and enhanced PC control by voiceYou
did not tell us how much extra this programme costs Hussain.
Elelanor
----- Original Message -----
From: Hussein Patwa
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2012 10:26 AM
Subject: [access-uk] Review: NovaTalk - Screen reader/magnifier and enhanced
PC control by voice
Hi all,
I wanted to let you know about a new product, NovaTalk, which I have been
using for the last few months and which has allowed me to use speech
recognition more effectively as well as control my screen reader by voice.
As some of you may know, I have had worsening Raynaud's phenomenon in my
hands for some time and have been using Dragon NaturallySpeaking alone to
reduce the need for typing. This worked OK, but correcting errors in the text
was time-consuming and there was still the problem of having to use the
keyboard a lot to control Dolphin SuperNova Access Suite (which I use for
magnification, speech and Braille). More recently, it has proved extremely
difficult to navigate documents and webpages through having to constantly use
the tab, arrow keys, etc. Together with SuperNova's Virtual Focus (or Dolphin
Cursor as it's now called).
NovaTalk now allows me to perform many of SuperNova's actions through spoken
commands. For example, I can read documents, spell out words, copy and paste
text. I can increase and decrease magnification, toggle the colour changer and
pan around the screen by voice thus no longer having to use the mouse. Most
useful of all, I can now navigate webpages, e-mails using the Dolphin cursor,
jump backwards and forwards through different elements including forms without
touching the keyboard.
I also have vast control over how text on screen is announced. For example,
I can read back specific links, headings, paragraphs and controls with a few
simple voice commands, meaning I don't have to remember many keyboard hotkeys
to achieve the same results. This is especially useful as I use NovaTalk on
both my desktop and laptop, yet these two systems have different keyboard
layouts and thus different hotkeys. Using the same voice commands on any
system completely resolves this problem.
Apart from this, I now find dictation considerably easier than when using
Dragon alone. Dictated text is echoed back to me immediately so I can correct
errors as I go rather than having to go through the whole document at the end.
Also, dictated text is automatically saved so it can be recovered via the
Recall command should my computer crash. I can also recover previous
dictations, which is great if I delete something and then change my mind.
Voice training was always a hassle, as I required sighted assistance to know
what text to read back to Dragon. Now the required text is read to me
automatically for me to repeat and I also know when text has not been
recognised and needs to be re-read. This has removed many frequent errors in
dictation I experienced when using Dragon alone.
It's honestly difficult to list how many things I am able to do with just one
program. I can use Regular Items to call different applications, favourites in
Internet Explorer, folders on my hard drive and even different folders within
Microsoft Outlook simply by creating a voice command with a name I can
remember. Also really useful is the ability to use Regular Shortcuts to add
blocks of text I use frequently (such as my address or signature), similar to
macros in Word but they can be used in any application including on the web.
The program has a workbook in Word format and this is also split into
sections with step-by-step instructions online. The technical support provided
through the online ticket system on the ExtraSolutions website has been
fantastic the few times I have had to use it but the program is also easy to
learn and I have been able to guess many of the commands without reading the
documentation.
Before using NovaTalk there were many days when I was unable to work as it
was just too painful to use the keyboard. NovaTalk has solved this problem and
I also find that I now work faster and more effectively. I have also learnt
about many functions of Dolphin SuperNova I didn't even know existed just by
learning the commands to work them.
I know speech recognition is not for everyone but I would strongly recommend
this product to anyone. You can find more information on
www.ExtraSolutions.co.uk and I am also happy to answer any questions from
anyone now I've used the software for some time.
Anyway, hope this helps someone and thanks for reading.
All the best for now and take care.
_______________________________________
Have a pleasant day,
Kind Regards and Best Wishes,
Hussein Patwa
Tel: 0789 47 595 62 (UK)
Tel: +44 (0)122 4433 954 (SIP)
Twitter: www.twitter.com/hussein_patwa
Skype: patwaspotterfan2
Web: www.patwanet.co.uk
Blog: http://patwaspotterfan.livejournal.com
Find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=510013486
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