[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 22:41:35 +0100

I agree with you, I followed the link and I was too ashamed to say that I could not find much about it either, not the price, a demo or anything. 


Eleanor
----- Original Message ----- From: "Kulvinder Singh Bhogal" <kbhogal1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2012 12:09 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Review: NovaTalk - Screen reader/magnifier and enhanced PC control by voice 



Hi there

I hope that your hands start feeling much better soon.
Just wondering how to get hold of Nova-talk. I've been on to the website and unless I'm being stupid, I can't find where to download a copy. 

I'd be most grateful for any help on this.

Regards.

Kulvinder Singh Bhogal
Skype: bobba2006
Messenger: Kulvinder@xxxxxxxx
Tel: 01332 514323
Mobile: 07581483856
----- Original Message ----- From: "Hussein Patwa" <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
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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