Also in November of 1997, Dragon Systems released another feature for Dragon NaturallySpeaking called NaturalText. NaturalText allows you to dictate directly into almost any windows application.
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| Like NaturalWord, NatrualText is an add-on for both the Preferred and Deluxe editions of Dragon NaturallySpeaking. (NaturalText does not work with the Personal Edition.) And like NaturalWord, NaturalText was not included on the early CD-ROMs of the Preferred and Deluxe Editions. However, when you install Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred or Deluxe, a Web page will be added to the start menu. Assuming that you are connected to the Internet, a link of this Web page (which connects to http://www.dragonsys.com/marketing/newfeature.html), brings you to the Dragon systems's server where you can download NaturalText. (Newer CD-ROMs include the NaturalWord install directly on the CD-ROM avoiding the need to download the code from Dragon.) |
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| NaturalText's direct dictation into Windows applications uses a technology similar to that which was used in DragonDictate for Windows. When NaturalText is enabled, and you speak into the microphone, and Dragon NaturallySpeaking will type what you say into the application which currently has the focus. This allows you to dictate into applications other than Dragon NaturallySpeaking itself and Microsoft Word 97. |
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| Dictation into other applications is more limited than dictation into Dragon NaturallySpeaking (and Microsoft Word 97). Currently, NaturalText has no concept of the text in the target application. Because of this, correction using "Select <text>" is disabled for other applications. If Dragon NaturallySpeaking makes a mistake, you can use the "Correct That" or "Scratch That" commands but no other voice correction commands. |
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| Yet even with these limitations, dictating directly into other applications can save you a lot of time especially if you are just dictating a sentence or two. You have to activate the target application by mouse or keyboard (or macro that you write yourself using the Deluxe Edition), but once the target application has the focus, you can dictate directly into it. |
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| You can also issue voice macros including macros that you write yourself using the Deluxe Edition for other applications. This makes a possible, for example, to speech enable an e-mail program so that you can send an entire message including the dictation portion by voice. |
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| When the direct dictation feature is installed, an additional icon is added to your tray. This icon allows you to disable dictation into other applications. Otherwise, dictation is always active (even when a button has the focus). |
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| In summary, NaturalWord which allows you to dictate directly into Microsoft Word 97 does include error correction by voice and all the features of Dragon NaturallySpeaking. NaturalText which allows you to dictate directly into other applications (other than Dragon NaturallySpeaking itself or Microsoft Word 97) does not include error correction by voice but does include dictation. |
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