Some of you who have corresponded with me lately may have noticed that I have been brief with my responses. You may also have noticed a number of spelling and grammatical errors in recent WUWT blog postings. This is due to the fact that after over five years of blog posting, I have succumbed to a problem that plagues many people who use the computer too often -carpal tunnel syndrome.
During the last week the problem has gotten severe enough to interfere with my ability to use the keyboard and mouse, as I have constant pain in my right hand. So tonight I decided I would try something new.
That “something” turned out to be speech recognition in Windows 7, which until tonight I didn’t know existed. I started looking for a off the shelf program to do the job but in the Google search discovered that it was built into Windows 7. After going through the tutorial on it I am using the speech recognition utility to write this blog posting.
As with any new technology it takes some getting used to. But, I am getting the hang of it with continued practice. So far I’ve only had the correct about six or seven mistakes in the paragraphs preceding this.
Over the next few days I planned to take a little bit of a break in blog posting and I will use that time to get more familiar with the speech recognition software. Hopefully by taking a short break I will be able to improve the situation with my right hand. Of course, I also have to learn how to dictate more effectively as it is something I’m not used to on a regular basis. I will say that that dictating to the computer allows me to write faster than I have been able to for quite some time. Further, it seems the speech recognition software is quite good at picking up the nuances of my voice and inflection which results in an overall increase in typing speed.
For those of you that have Windows 7, you might want to try getting a USB headset with a microphone and practice learning how to use the speech recognition software -it may help you write better comments. One of the most interesting things I learned is that screaming at the headset results than nothing being typed at all – the computer gets confused. So, on the plus side if everyone use speech recognition for writing comments we would probably have less trolls because they tend to shout. 🙂 it even recognized when I said the emoticon in the middle of the last sentence.
In the meantime, those of you that wish to submit stories should use the submit story button on the WUWT menu. Please bear in mind that when submitting a story it should be submitted as if it’s actually going to be posted rather than as a tip or advice. Please use tips and notes in the menu for those sorts of notifications.
As always, thank you for your patience and consideration. -Anthony
Hey! It works.
Bravo Anthony!
Carpal diem!
I have the same problem, Anthony–it first manifested itself when I was in my early 30s while slinging around five gallon buckets of mud at an archeological site, and when I saw my doc about the pain he said it was my carpal tunnels rebelling at the labor. I told him that I was too young to get carpal tunnel, and to his credit he only smiled, not laugh derisively.
It’s a pain, but for our sake I’m glad you’re finding a workaround!
Okay, okay, for your sake, too. 🙂
How is the contextual stuff working out? Can it distinguish between “recognize speech” and “wreck a nice beach”?
Reply to Murray
Let’s find out .
Recognize speech Wreck on nice beach
Well, it was close.
Thanks, Anthony … going to pass this on to my (almost 90 yr old) Dad, who’s been struggling (unsuccessfully) with Dragon for several years – and who against my better judgment (countermanded by my sibling and step-siblings), a year or so ago got new laptop with Win 7 and MS productivity minus “Office 2007”!
But I did notice one error you might want to correct in your post: “So far I’ve only had the correct …” I’m sure you probably said “So far, I’ve only had to correct …”
Isn’t technology wonderful? Of course one will have to mind one’s ‘p’s and ‘q’s…
Yes Jimmy technology is wonderful. I’ve only been using this just a little over an hour and it’s already helping significantly
Nice tip, thanks, gotta try that out. I bought a Dragon NatSpeaking 10 years ago but after benchmarking I found that with all the corrections I had to make I wasn’t faster than typing – it wasn’t bad but I’m a fast typer so the bar was too high and I abandoned using it. Also, the windows integration wasn’t good enough for me. Let’s see whether this one works better…
Reply to DirkH
Yes I tried dragon naturally speaking a few years ago and was very frustrated with it. The new windows seven speech recognition seems much more natural.
Anthony – glad that you are using that software.
I did 4 things to address my issues:
1) Increased my water intake (it turns out that dehydration aggravates the condition)
2) Increased the recommended flexibility exercises with the soft squishy rubber ball thingy provided me
3) Took an anti-inflammatory
4) Installed an ‘ergo’ software to remind me to take breaks
The condition is now well-managed. Hopefully you can address yours as well…. I’m keeping my fingers crossed (wait, that doesn’t sound right…)! ;-D
has Romm discovered Voodoo, I wonder
Although I don’t suffer from your condition I know how RSI can render people almost unable to do things comfortably. I know this technology in Windows 7 is quite good out of the box so to speak. I recall setting up an IBM PS/2 running OS/2 back in the early 90’s for an employee who suffered from multiple sclerosis, took a while to setup, but worked rather well. Enjoy the new toy.
Speech recognition training is mostly about training yourself to enunciate properly and leave micro-pauses between words.
For carpal tunnel syndrome I recommend therapeutic gloves or wrist bands. They worked well for me and over a couple of years my CTS seems to have faded almost completely.
Hey Anthony
Sorry to hear about your wrists I have suffered with issue myself but the good news there is a solution without surgery. I know you have probably heard of miracle pain relief products a dozen times. But I can assure you as some one who lost complete use of both hands (carpenter turned heavy computer user) this stuff works. I keep buying it 6 at a time and end up giving most of it to others I tell about it who suffers from carpal, tendinitous any joint swelling pain. Usually takes just a few days for initial relief then a few weeks to be almost like new. Last lady I gave it to was back to work renoing her house after just 3 days. Just check amazon reviews of the stuff I’m not sure there’s a single bad one. You can find it at http://www.penetrex.com/
Check it out I think you will be amazed.
PS In thanks for such a amazing site. I’m gone hit the Tip jar to cover your first jar of the stuff
Cheers
Mark
Reply to mryan
Thanks I will give it a try based on your recommendation.
I have been using a keyboard since the mid eighties. (actually a bit before) and have never had this issue. In fact, I have been using a keyboard for so long, that when telling someone what keys to push, I keep messing up and tell them to hit the return key. (enter).
I don’t doubt that it’s a problem… I have had other non keyboard repetitive stress issues… but they mainly are due to extended periods of mouse use or leaning wrong for too many miles while driving.
Hope you get better!
Reminds me of an autobiographical note published by Isaac Asimov some decades ago, in which he mentioned – disappointedly – his failure to make dictation and transcription work for him in his fiction writing.
Apparently, Dr. Asimov “thought” his dialogue and narration in very vivid terms. At the keyboard of his computer, he could put no more immediate emphasis on his prose than hammering the hell out of the poor gadget (the old steam-powered Smith-Corona portable I used in college and med school still bears the marks of my fingernails grooving the keys commonly struck by the second and third fingers of both hands).
When he tried to dictate, however…. Hoo, boy.
His transcriptionist had to give up in despair, reporting to him (according to Dr. Asimov) that especially in dialogue he projected the emotions of his characters – particularly in conflict – so frenziedly that she couldn’t understand him.
Yet somehow I’ve managed to use a keyboard all day, every day, since 1980. I’m skeptical.
Reply to Mark
It isn’t the keyboard so much as it is the mouse clicking approving comments is very mouse click intensive. And WUWT is now approaching one million comments. Although I’ve had help with moderation I still approve hundreds of comments per day. In addition to that I spend a good portion of my time at my own computer at my office doing similar work with editing web pages and documents.
One option is to get a tablet like wacom and use a pen.
Commiserations Anthony. My carpal tunnel syndrome is chronic, not acute, so I can manage. It peaks in spring at the end of the snow clearing season (16 metres last winter).
Does the voice recognition thingy respond to “dig, shovel, faster”? That would be cool!
I had bad pain in my right thumb/wrist area, cured it by switching from a small short oval mouse to a large tall ergonomic mouse that allowed my hand to be more open.
Cheers
I suffered from carpal tunnel, repetitive strain injury and tendonitis from using computer mice, keyboards and controllers. Being a video editor I had few options other than to not work. I eventually switched to using a Wacom pen and tablet and have been able to manage the condition for the last ten years. Still get occasional bouts when I’m busy but on the whole I get by without any serious problem. Pen and tablets get a little time to get used to but they are so much better than mice. Just try writing your signature with a mouse. Voice recognition software is invaluable too. I use the iPad’s built in speech software to dictate blog posts, articles and documents. And this message!
When I first tried using speech recognition I was very impressed when it got “I’m too tired to walk two miles” (with the three forms of ‘to’) correct. I’ve since given up with it as much of my work is overseas and having spell the name of each raingauge or flow meauring station slows things down too much.
Maybe you’re doing something else wrong. Maybe your diet is bad. Maybe your exercise regimen is bad. Maybe you’re not sleeping well. Maybe your stress is bad.
I encourage you to avoid chemicals and quick fix products.
I didn’t mean to sound rude before, but carpel tunnel doesn’t happen to healthy people. I encourage you to investigate your health instead of fixating on one issue.
I hate to promote a site, but if I had to, I’d promote MarksDailyApple.com
Crap. I have no association with MarksDailyApple.com, other than the same first name.
Anthony
It was probably about 15 years ago that I first used a program called ‘Dragon-naturally speaking’;
It was totally hilarious to the point I seriously thpught about asking the TV people to make a game show of it whereby everyone spoke a pre prepared text and the one that was changed the most into a totally incorrect but still reasonably lucid story was the winner.
Obviously things have moved on. I commend you for your ability to continually adapt to changing circumstances
tonyb
Have u considered:
http://www.google.com/m/search?q=trackballs&tbm=isch&pbx=1&site=images<oken=de47b03c
Trackballs
Go get ’em, Tiger. You must be greatly relieved. I find that voice recognition software is sketchy owing to my workplace, where there is a constant background din. So, I type. But for you and your seemingly tireless running of WUWT, wow. What a revelation, eh?