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
@AndyG55
I had to sell the motorbike because I couldn’t control the clutch :-(((((((((
Oh noes! That’s worse than death.
I’m left handed, but I use a mouse set up for a rightie. It sits diagonally between thumb and forefinger, with the forefinger falling naturally on the left button. It feels completely natural and relaxed. My CTS is on my right (power) side, not my left (control) side.
On the bike, clutch is fine, but twistgrip causes problems. Not enough to give up biking, though.
Well, I guess we can add that to the list – Global Warming causes Carpal Tunnel. Can’t deny this one I guess.
CTS is often caused by non-ergonomic equipment and bad posture (which includes bad ways
of using the equipment.)
.
The biggest problem is the non-ergonomic mice we suffer these days. I have XXXL hands (British glove size) and I cannot get a mouse to fit my hand—anywhere. I’m also stuck with
needing a left-handed mouse—using a mouse right handed is really really awkward for me,
being very strongly left-handed. And, of course, almost all mice these days are right handed
ones.
I found a kiddy’s toy mouse (a large turtle) was big enough and this worked really well—until
it wore out. I tried to replace it but, of course, they were no longer stocked, forcing me to
revert to a (tiny, right-handed) modern one—again. So I use the mouse as little as possible,
which meant learning all the keyboard hot keys and short cuts. Nearly 20 years ago, I set out to learn how to touch type properly as the Modified Vulture Technique made keyboard use unpleasant too.
Correct keyboard use means I can use the keyboard more with less damage, even though I
type at half the speed of someone who learnt to type at school. Knowing the keyboard
shortcuts means my mouse use is greatly reduced so the poor fit to my hand doesn’t have
any noticable effect any more.
Analyse your tools for fit, action and comfort, fixing what you can with new tools where you
can find comfortable ones. Analyse your use of the tools:
—could you support your arms differently to take load off the hands
—is the mouse too small for your hand—ie you’re pinching the hand and fingers in to fit the
mouse and hence having a tense hand
—are you moving your hands around the keyboard correctly (consult a touch typing manual
here: I learnt a lot from one!)
Hope this helps …
I’m glad you found a workable solution Anthony, though switching to the left hand for mouse control does seem to be a popular solution.
Pointman
Sorry about the CT syndrome. Painful. I have used Dragon voice recognition but if your voice changes over a short time, as mine does due to some problem I won’t bore you with, the VRS gives up. I found it was not good for any writing which included mathematical or scientific notations which had to be hand typed.
I gave up and type more slowly.
Hi! Sorry to hear you have the dread CTS. The “work station” modifications are a good idea but should should perhaps consider if you have developed trigger points-No one seems clear if TP’s create the problem or follow it but whatever, they do keep it going. Googling CTS + Trigger point gives lots of sites with DIY diagnosis and advice.
I have back and leg pain and my bible is “The Triggerpoint Therapy Workbook” by Clare Davies. A very good, easy to follow book for DIY treatment. (No DoI needed)
Working with a mouse is rats!
Dear Anthony,
Had the same problem with my mouse at work — and voice recognition won’t work when coding R. Switched to my laptop’s keyboard, enabling me to tap with my left thumb on the track pad, rather than click with my right hand on the mouse. Hand trouble is now easing up…
Take a look at Dragon Naturally Speaking foo. Excellent product.
Obviously I meant “too” not “foo” and I typed that on my droid, so it has nothing to do with Dragon.
“Wreck on nice beach.” Excellent euphemism for CAGW papers.
Very sorry to read that you have CTS. A very painful condition which I hope will clear up soon with rest and treatment. I’ve been recomended a trackball mouse such as Logitech’s Optical Trackball Marble Mouse but haven’t tried it.
I’m truly amazed at how well the Windows 7 speech recognition works.
I tried it a few weeks ago for the first time. Didn’t improve my character input but it really does help to improve your oration because it forces you to, as they put it, speak like a newsreader.
Anthony, as a TBBT fan you must know the potential drawbacks of talking to an electronic device:
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gD4-YBu-sY]
Try using a vertical mouse. They are awkward and look stupid but a few days use relieve any pain I get from using a mouse. I leave one plugged in to a spare USB port so I always have the choice.
Another form-factor change besides a mouse that folks could try is a Wacom tablet. The pen will have its own peculiarities, but can be used as such. I have one, but don’t use it often.
I will endorse many comments here. I also work in IT and got “tennis” elbow (never played tennis). Used the mouse in left-hand like many others, used a joystick mouse which rotates hand 90 degrees, like many others. The hand rotation gave almost instant relief (but I am talking about a different part of the arm to Carpal Tunnel) and after a little while I can now mouse all day with a standard right-hand mouse. Rest it and the body is a great healer. Continue to aggravate the issue and you are headed for a life of pain.
As you have hinted at and from what I recall speech recognition software gets better the more you use it and correct it. Unlike some programs (cough* computer models *cough) I know 🙂
Ouch. You have my sympathy for suffering CTS, Anthony. I’ve known one or two other people with it, and the nearest thing to a usable solution was indeed voice recognition. A Scottish friend had very good experiences with Dragon (unlike you!), and after a bit of training it soon produced excellently well spelt and grammatical output. Like anything, I suppose, practice makes perfect, and his good experiences were a fair few years / software generations ago so everything should be even better now. Ee. Nun. See. Eight. Clear. Lee!
Mercifully CTS is one thing that’s never hit me. “Glass arm” from sending too much Morse code, on the other hand … owww …
My wife had Carpal Tunnel in both wrists (she types for a living) and used a product similar to this – http://www.askergoworks.com/products/1660/RollerMouse-Free.aspx which she said made a big difference. She still ended up having surgery on both wrists, it takes less than an hour and about a month to recover, but she has been symptom free for a few years now. I am not sure why there is such a vehement anti-surgery vibe on here, maybe there are drawbacks I haven’t read about, but I can say from experience that it certainly can correct the problem.
Hope it gets better,
Tony
Hi Anthony,
just wondering if you can approve comments using the software?
Anthony. Has carpal tunnel actually been diagnozed ? Thought it was also my problem, but it turned out to be a C/6 nerve root impingement due to arthritis in the neck.
As someone with 68 years of total right handedness I was getting pain in the right wrist even having had the carpal tunnel operated on ten years ago. I switched my mouse to left handed and after a couple of days problem gone and no loss of speed. It might even be that the change could liven up my right brain and make me more creative!
Jimbo asked “just wondering if you can approve comments …”
Try “click” ? Or create a variant.
The Win 7 software copes very well with my “talk like a pirate” diction. I have tried translating expletives [in two] into commands in the computer aided design software [IOUs] I use, eg convert “s**t” into undo. Found undo is already a voice command, so I guess I’ll have to look at how you create aliases…. or give up cussing at the thing …
TonyTheGeek says:
June 27, 2012 at 3:16 am. I am not sure why there is such a vehement anti-surgery vibe on here, ————————
Perhaps, like me they have a relative or friend who finished up with a dropped wrist, and had to wear a brace thereon.
Clique2 says:
June 27, 2012 at 2:38 am The Trigger point Therapy Workshop, Davies and Davies, got a copy last Nov. very good for most pain relief.
Oops, that should be Workbook, (it was a long way away!)