Dragon versus Microsoft Speech Recognition

“Why pay for something when there’s a free one available?”

Normally, I would agree with this sentiment but when it comes to choosing between Dragon Naturally Speaking and Window’s 7 Speech Recognition Dragon in my opinion Dragon wins hand down!

About 20 years ago, I came across a free Speech Recognition program on the web.

Once I had installed it, I bought a desktop microphone. I was quite put out to find the application didn’t recognize my Australian accent except for the odd word here and there.

My daughter hearing me yelling rushed into my office to see what was the matter. When I told her my problem, she said, “Why not try an American accent?”

This I did with some success.

Sometime later, I came across a website offering Dragon Naturally Speaking. Now hooked on dictating rather than typing (my typing is the hunt and peck method) I bought a copy of Dragon and was delighted to see how well it worked.

You could choose one of two English accents – British and American.  I chose the former. The results were encouraging.

Sometime later, a new version of Dragon came out adding the Australian accent.

I now went ahead in leaps and bounds.

It wasn’t until 2001, that Microsoft got into the act and released a speech recognition system that worked with Office XP. This system, like Dragon, required training to recognize a specific user’s voice.

The training program utilized extracts from various authors such as Edgar Allen Poe’s Fall of the House of Usher, and Bill Gates’ The Way Forward. Curiously, Microsoft has dropped using different extracts from their current version of Speech Recognition.

Even after training, the system was poor compared with Dragon. Never the less I decided to try it and found it clunky to say the least.

Rejecting it, I went back to Dragon. Once more, another version of Dragon came out adding more improvements to an already successful application. And so it went on. I bought the every version of Dragon right from the start. The latest is Version 10.

In Windows Vista, and now with Windows 7, Microsoft has finally gotten it right with a properly functioning version. Though Microsoft’s Tutorial Program is slicker than Dragons, Dragon covers the basics in greater depth.

Training is essential for both programs. Microsoft’s training program is inferior to Dragon as it only provides basic training whereas Dragon allows you to choose the level of training – no training (not recommended), short training or special training.

In special training, there is a variety of sample text ranging from simple to complex. While training takes time it is time well spent!

So the burning question is, why spend X dollars on another program when there is a free one available in Windows?

Dragon Naturally Speaking is the superior program for these reasons.

•    It is available in multiple editions – Standard, Preferred, and Professional and specialized versions for the Medical and Legal professions.
•    On installation, you can choose the English accent – American, British, Australian, Indian, and South-East Asian.
•    It provides a comprehensive Training Program and an excellent Tutorial.
•    It makes for superior control of windows, menus and applications.
•    It has a better error correction feature.
•    It has the highest accuracy level, 99%

The cost of purchasing this program is fully justified, as it is a more advanced program than the opposition with Microsoft is still playing catch up.

An interesting aside, Apple has now adopted the Dragon Naturally Speaking Speech Engine.

So there you have it!  Dragon provides better usability, adaptability and reliability.

What do you think?

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