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Dragon NaturallySpeaking (DNS) has been around since the 1990s, but it was with the introduction of version 8 in 2006 that the product truly became usable to convert the spoken word into text. I had tried DNS version 6, but I gave up as it just wasn't ready for easy day-to-day use. However, since version 8 I've used each successive version and was looking forward to getting version 1 1 to put through its paces.
Each successive update since version 8 has added incremental improvements to the base product. I believe that the improvements in DNS 11, particularly to the Professional version, are more than just incremental changes, however, as they definitely improve ease of use and efficiency of the product, helping you get tasks done faster and more accurately.
Most people believe, incorrectly, that Dragon can only be used to convert your spoken words into text in a word-processing program; nothing could be further from the truth. The entire DNS 11 family of editions gives you the ability to work with programs such as Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel, as well as powerful tools to search the web and control the programs that you use on a daily basis. DNS 1 1 Professional and Legal editions enhance these capabilities by allowing you to add advanced custom commands, Excel and PowerPoint support, and transcription tools. The ability to control your computer can be especially helpful if you have a disability that makes using your computer with a traditional keyboard difficult. However, these improvements to DNS don't come without a cost; with this version more than ever, having a modern processor and sufficient memory is critical to its proper operation.
If your system fails to meet the minimum requirements as designated by Nuance (the maker of DNS), Dragon will not install on your system. Nuance states that a 1 GHz Pentium or equivalent AMD processor is sufficient, but a 1.8 GHz Intel Dual Core or equivalent AMD processor is recommended. And although the minimum requirements are 1 GB of RAM for Windows XP and Windows Vista and 2 GB for Windows 7, douling these minimum requirements should be the norm. Additionally, you will need a 16- bit sound card to connect a headset or other input device...