A comparison of  Dragon Naturally Speaking and Windows 7 Speech Recognition software

 Let's start with the differences between these two pieces of software.

Dragon Naturally Speaking has been around for many years and works best with the use of a headset for its operation. Dragon Naturally Speaking also costs about 40 to 99 dollars as a separate piece of computer software. Dragon Naturally Speaking also requires major time invested in speaking to the computer to train it to understand the nuances of the speaker's voice. But it does a good job around 95% of the time.  

Dragon Naturally Speaking has had some difficulties from the start of their software development. It is memory intensive and Dragon's software requires most other software programs not be running at the same time on many RAM limited computers. Also if you let it, the dictionaries for Dragon software grow in size and eat up your available resources. To verify this, simply right click on your task bar and bring up your Task Manager program then look under the Processes tab and look at the column called Memory. If it sounds like there are some continuing difficulties with this software you are observant.

Now there is a major competitor for Dragon Naturally Speaking. As part of the common items installed with OS Windows 7, a little software program called speech recognition should compete for every tech user's attentions. Find it through the Start button, then through the Control Panel and use the Icon view. Windows 7 speech recognition software is built in and works very effectively. It is more intuitive and easier to use. Training time is very minimal. It works well with the built-in microphone most common in net books and laptops. It never locks up my screen. It is free. For spelling and general corrections it simply operates faster. Add that to its use of fewer computer resources and it becomes obvious that this is a great little piece of software.

I really hate to say goodbye to Dragon Naturally Speaking software. It has been with me as a constant companion throughout the years of working on a master's degree. Without this piece of software I would've never accomplished the volume of writing necessary.   

But times change and good technology improvements will always win out. Both these two pieces of software seek to accomplish the same technical goal. Any user comparing them will discover that one software program is clearly better.

I now prefer Windows 7 speech recognition software for my creative writing and dictating needs. Move over Dragon Naturally Speaking, Windows 7 speech recognition software is better overall.  I loved you for years Dragon Naturally Speaking but the party's over. 

No typing needed with Dragon Naturally Speaking software

Throughout my life I've been both lazy and hyperactive. Often times, I preferred the lazy way of getting things done if it creates the same result. 

I actually found some software that once coordinated with my natural speaking patterns and vocal range works quite well. The software is called Dragon Naturally Speaking and it does work.

The current version available of this software can be trained to function at peak efficiency levels of approximately 90 to 98%. So what does this mean? It means if you're lazy or a bad typist you're in luck. Once you install this software it gives you an opportunity to read selected entries into its database that are then evaluated for tonal range, rhythm pattern, accents, irregular vocalizations and more.  

I have a slight lisp, and the software works brilliantly even with that problem.

If you are pressed for time to train your software you can simply read the sections on business e-mails and memos (these take only a few minutes). Or if you are so inclined, you can read longer passages for training. After the software records your reading of the material, this software then takes a few minutes to associate patterns and create a profile.

What is interesting about this software, is that the faster you speak to it and the longer and more technical the sentences are - the higher the success rate of its accuracy since it actually compares positional wording, phrases and references. 

I use it with my Microsoft Word software to compose rather long and technical, business papers that are a necessity in completing a recent MBA.

Dragon Naturally Speaking software is well worth the approximate $30 -$50 that this software costs.

Oh, by the way, did I mention it also can be trained to open up all your other software on your computer and then run the software?  Or that it can be trained to ignore background noises or the TV, will surf the Internet by your voice input directions and can have multiple profiles for many users?

Isn't it great when something works very well indeed?

Some useful directives for malware removal and protection

Bad software is known by many possible names: spyware, viruses, worms, trojans, ad-ware, keystroke loggers. The goal is to remove this junky malware from your  OS system. Depending on the extent of your situation and the level of infection, many methods can be enabled. Here are some ways to get your system clean (or cleaner).

1.) Wiping you hard drive is one option but a drastic one, only consider this as a very last alternative. You will loose all your installed applications and all your user data files. The time needed to reinstall your basic operating system is extensive and you will never recover the other files written over on your hard drive.

2.) Multi-partitioning your hard disk is another possible answer. Software programs on the market can help you partition your hard drive. Then you can keep your old files and Windows operating system in one partition and do an install of a new Windows operating system into another partition. You can then run your anti virus and spyware detectors on the old partition while continuing to function using the new partition.

3.) Purchase or download then install a good anti-virus and any good efficient spyware program. Run this software and start the hunt. AVG is an excellent ant-virus program and is free for private use.  The other program I recommend is Ad-aware .

4.) Disconnect your computer from the Internet while hunting for malware on your computer. Use a mouse and keyboard that is directly connected to your computer just in case during the hunt.

5.) Review the list of your auto-started services and stop the ones you do not recognize. Get on the internet and do some research to verify what they are before you stop them. But do remove any that do not have a description of their actions. Never forget that your system has automatic processes you are not aware of. To examine them for infiltration, use a program like this one from Microsoft to help correct any problems.

6.) Use you head and taken your time to look for specific malware with "good names" located in good directories. As Microsoft points out, the winlogon.exe file should be in the C:\Windows\system32 directory and nowhere else.

7.) Examine your hosts file and see if you are being blocked with other entries. The hosts file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Your Windows operating system checks the hosts file before it queries any DNS servers. This host file uses a running list fro verification. It looks like a resolved IP address with a small gap and a entry of 127.0.0.1 on each line. For example if some malicious software put this in your hosts file msn.com 127.0.0.1 on your computer, you will never connect to this site. This type of entry blocks IP's using what is called a loop back address. A hosts file has the ability to block other applications from connecting to the Internet. If you are really sick of seeing a specific popup when you visit a certain site then right click on the pop up and get the resolved IP address like stupidjunk12/123junkstuff.com and copy down just the primary part that says 123junkstuff.com and enter it into you host file like this: 123junkstuff.com 127.0.0.1 and this will block the ad and you will never see it again.

8.) Make Windows Explorer display all hidden and system files. On the Tools menu in Windows Explorer, click Folder Options, then click the View tab click Under Hidden files and folders then click on Show hidden files and folders.

9.) Delete your web browser's temporary Internet Files, the files in your recycle bin, your web browser history, and your Java cache (by going to the Control Panel - Java - General Tab). Do this often.

10.) Download and use alternatives to Internet Explorer like Firefox, Chrome or Safari.

Cell phones - the past and potential future

I like cell phones. They are convent, easy to use and basically cheap to operate. I have owned many of them since their “roll out" back in the 80’s with Cellular One Company. My first was a cell phone attached by a curlicue pigtail cord to the battery system that weighed over fifteen pounds and looked like a giant black lunchbox with a shoulder strap. The reception was lousy and the cost was a dollar a minute.

I love the innovations that drives more innovations. Cell phones have become tiny, stylish and functional. It’s all about marketplace pressure that pushes the design innovations. It’s all about the competition for companies to produce and market successfully a novel cell phone to the consumer results in the consumers getting a great product and the winning company getting our money. That is commerce at its most basic level. And in this case the general public (the consumer) has reaped the benefits of the industry competition.

Consider what the future will bring if we now have cell phones that have common features like: taking digital pictures, connecting to the web, the ability to check your bank account balance, send an e-mail, play games or music and keep a record of our friends and business acquaintances.

Just imagine what the next decade will bring us.

Basic Math Skills

8/16/2008


I noticed the other day that I couldn’t add and subtract a few numbers together without some difficulty. Thought it might have been a result of my being in a real hurry that day. I promised myself to look into that when I had some time.

Thought about it for a bit. Seems that over the years and with the general disuse of my skill to add, subtract and divide numbers; I became one of people that really needed a calculator to do simple math.

I looked into it this morning doing what most of us do and running a search on the Google search engine.

After doing the Google search I discovered that most of the adult population in the US seems to have gone the same way. The “experts” state that it is due to a general disuse of this skill in our everyday life. Seems we don’t exercise it enough. The “experts” say it’s not the level of education we have received but at that our “basic skills” erode without continual usage. (Great, another thing we need to exercise or “it” falls apart.)

OK - basic math; I’m agree I need it and I'm ready to do it. Now lets do 10 minutes of math problems every day and get back to the shape I was in when I was younger. (Now if I can just find some paper and a pencil so I can start my exercise routine.)

Automatic Spell Check software is needed

8/16/2008

I have noticed that some of the e-mails I have received lately have had misspellings because the senders are too lazy or too rushed to hit the “spell check” button and review individual words. Carelessness is becoming rampant. I have noticed that it seems to be equally simple words and complex words spelled wrong in the e-mails I have received.

Generally our skill in “spelling” as individuals is gone. Seems we need spell check or most of us could not write something that anyone could translate. Is their anything more ridiculous that allowing our talents to wan because we are personally lazy? We blame the pace of our lives for the reduction in this skill but in reality it’s because we feel it’s not worth much as a skill since most all of us depend on some form of a “spell check” any time we write something.

Then maybe all my e-mails would be spelled correctly. (And the pathetic, fraudulent e-mail scams would at least be understandable and amusing.)

Maybe the companies that produce the attached “spell check” software should make its use mandatory not optional. Or produce software that automatically offers the correct wording as we type it.

This would allow all of us a few more free seconds to do “really important” things.

Developing Personal Power Yields the Most Workplace Benefits

8/15/2008

Why You Need to Develop Personal Influence at Work

Power is influence. Employee power in the workplace is related to the capacity or possession of something the employee has that can be of use or provide profit for themselves or the associated company. Power in the workplace can be leverage or need based. Increasing an individual's formal or personal power on the job can be accomplished in a number of ways (Robbins, 2007; Ryan, 2007).

Formal power is derived by achieving higher promotions in the organization, and with it, the ability to weld legimate, coercive or reward power. While working towards these promotions and a potential increase in formal power, an employee can increase personal power by supplementing skills and personal characteristics. Personal referent powers can also be augmented by creating desirable traits that other business personnel find charismatic. Of the two bases for power in the workplace, it has been shown that personal power yields the most benefits (Azzarello, 2007; Gallo, 2007). Therefore, increasing your power base would be beneficial to your career in your company (Robbins, 2007).

Gallo (2007) writes about increasing employee power by thinking of yourself as a commodity. This article has suggestions for adjusting your body language to suit the situation. It is essential in the modern business world to never forget that you need to "sell yourself as a brand". Gallo says that by showing your workplace the expert and referent power value you can provide, you can be successful. (Gallo, 2007)

Azzarello (2007) writes that "leaving coworkers' perceptions of you to chance" is what puts you at risk of losing support where you work. It is necessary to develop positive behaviors and attitudes that will increase you clout in the workplace. This article makes the point that an individual needs to decide what you want to be known for at work and then take responsibility to make it happen.

The control of others' perceptions is a necessary skill for obtaining power. He wants the reader to question themselves and points out that it is always in the individual's hands (Azzarello, 2007).Reingold and Yang (2007) write that "the hidden workplace of collaborations, relationships, and networks" is a key to reward power in an organization. This parallel power structure is as important as the formal power structure gained from position. The article talks about referent power and says that "successful managers must understand this other systems of power" to succeed (Reingold, 2007).

So what does this all mean? These writers agree that personal power is considered a workplace essential and can be increased by the individual actively working on their techniques and skills. The goal is to create a level of personal power to favorably influence your co-workers and supervisors yielding the most returns for the effort (Azzarello, 2007; Gallo, 2007). An expansion of an individual's power base will yield career related results (Robbins, 2007).


References

Azzarello, P. (2007 August 30,). How to Build Your Credibility and Increase Your Political Power. Retrieved September 24, 2007, from CIO Web site: http://www.cio.com/article/134200/How_to_Build_Your_Credibility_and_Increase_Your_Political_Power/1.htmGallo, C. (2007 April 30,). Special report - Your Body, the Negotiator. Retrieved September 24, 2007, from Businessweek.com Web site: http://www.businessweek.com/careers/content/apr2007/ca20070430_088358.html
Likely Page BreakReingold J. & and Yang J. (2007 July 18,) .The hidden Workplace. Retrieved on September 22, 2007 from Fortune cnnMoney.com web site http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/07/23/100135706/index.htmRobbins, S. P. & Judge, T.A. (2007). Organizational Behavior. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.Ryan, L. (2007, May 29,). Excuse Me for Doing My Job. BusinessWeek.com, from http://www.businessweek.com/careers/content/may2007/ca20070529_216386.html

Increasing Creativity in Business Decision Making

8/14/2008

In rational decision making, how much creativity is acceptable for an organization? Common sense also dictates that too much creativity in decision making is to be avoided since the ultimate goal is provide benefit, not harm.

Decision making is a reaction to an initial problem that has come to the attention of the proper personnel and that person then examines it for needed action. As a standard; decisions are made in business environments using pre-defined models like: defining the problem in a constrained format, outlining specific criteria of the object, determining the values of all these criteria, giving due consideration to all reasonable alternatives, then evaluating the alternatives and making a final selection as a decision. It has been said that the higher the level of experience; the greater the creativity skills, coupled with an increased level of motivation will then produce an increase in creativity in decision making (Robbins & Judge, 2007; Rodriguez, 2007).

Hughes (2003) notes that "research has shown everyone has some creativity". He specifies that "systematic courses of instruction in applied imagination produce significant gains in personality traits such as confidence, self-reliance, persuasiveness, initiative, and leadership" this leading to a positive gain for the employee and the company. He feels that corporations should look for employee's that have "higher than average scores in areas of mental/emotional health" and feels confident that the studies he has reviewed are accurate when he links those numbers to "higher than average scores in creative thinking"(Hughes, 2003).

See the full article at AssociatedContent.com at

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/365865/increasing_creatvity_in_business_decision.html?cat=3

E-Businesses and E-Commerce

5/15/2008


Who, What, Where and How
of E-Businesses and E-Commerce

The determinate for an e-business is: some form of communication with customers, clients or suppliers thru email, or if there is information posted about your e-business, or the internet is used for functionality improvement on any level. Generally any use of the internet in any form makes a business an e-business.

The difference between e-business and e-commerce: Does the company exist as a figurehead on the internet (as a promotional website or contact point) or is the company trying to create revenue to pay for the needs of a company by using the internet and standardized processes that involve the internet to some degree (promotional selling of products or services) or does the company already offer to process payments for services or products on the internet (sales of items to businesses, the government or consumers). E-commerce is involved in the use of transactional payments. Versions of E-businesses exist; they may supply consumers or other business or government needs. They are designated by initials such as B2C,B2B,B2G,C2C,C2B. The value chain structure is what set them apart from each other.

And for new companies: a proper understanding of all needs and issues must be outlined before any actual development of a e-business or e-commerce is attempted. Once a specific outline of the needs is drafted; a direction and selection for hosting, website construction, security and promotional marketing can be pursued. Then hopefully the sales and income for the e-business will follow. Two of the primary areas to be very careful with are data security and consumer ease of use. Selection of good transaction software is vitally important to the security of both your company and the customer's information as well as providing a comfortable and satisfing experience for the customer.





http://www.wilsonweb.com/wct1/971215storesoftware.htm


http://www.managementhelp.org/infomgnt/e_cmmrce/e_cmmrce.htm


http://www.e-businessguide.gov.au/understanding/e-business/what_is

College should be savored for the knowledge

5/12/2008




As an older student (55) I can say with certainty that spending my time becoming familiar with information and making it knowledge is a sport well worth taking on. I have spent 5 years on a number of degrees (3) and I do not intend on stopping in the near future while there are nuggets of data available to enjoy.

I think that knowledge is very much like good food.

Most people are always on a diet and never enjoy the items on the plates in front of them. They never see the food waiting to be savored for what it is but eat as a mechanical effort.

Why do we rush through our lives?

7 20/ 2007

The biggest question of the moment is:
why do we rush?


I find it amusing that so many people I see around me rush about and claim that someday they will stop and enjoy life. (after they retire, or make lots of money or change their hair color...)Why do I never see any of them take a minute and look up at that beautiful blue azure sky and watch the clouds go by? Have you ever taken the time to see what is always over all our heads but hardly ever noticed by most people.

Rushing costs. It cost us time and money. (Think of the cars rushing by on the road the next time you drive and the additional cost of gasoline used) It adds to the stress of our life situations. So the question is why do we do it or allow it to control us? What is the point of rushing in the long run ?

Walden Revisited

7 /20/ 2007

I went into the woods ...

I first heard this Thoreau passage "I went to the woods..."when my father read it to me as a bedtime story almost fifty years ago. I can clearly remember this passage from a time in my life when I was 5 or 6. I also remember him patiently explaining the ideas behind the words and discussing it at length with me many times in my childhood. Over the years, he read many classical books to me including that specific Thoreau passage.

I treasured those moments with my father. I can still hear my father's voice reciting many different passages from his classic books to me. He would read Longfellow's "The Village Blacksmith" and while he talked I saw in my mind the wide branches of the chestnut tree and the man's muscles bulging. And on another evening, my father recited "Life in the Woods" and I thought about living life for the real experience of what it could teach me and then hearing my father's voice continue with "I did not wish to live what was not life…"thinking it would be a shame to not live fully. Another time, I clearly remember my father smiling as he read Whitman's "Song of the Open Road" about the long path leading to where I could choose to go if I choose to. Another bedtime, I can recall my father's voice describing the art of sauntering from Thoreau's "Walking". I found myself thinking about how not to repeat my initial steps and still get back home.

I was privileged to enjoy many moments of fine classical music, good literature and being included in numerous adult discussions on diverse points of view while growing up. I can remember as a child borrowing and reading many of his books and preferring them to watching Howdy Dowdy or Laurence Welk on TV. I can remember times spent sitting and reading those books as the light dimmed in our living room. There were grand worlds in my father's books; some made by the authors and some created by me from the imagery I pictured in my mind. My solemn stillness while reading was something which always puzzled my mother. It was easy to be still when worlds from these books were inside my mind.

All this greatly influenced me as I grew up. It changed my way of thinking and seeing, I wanted to get the most from life by identifying and then experiencing what was important to me. I wanted to pursue living in harmony with nature. That passage "I went to the woods…" and many others made me wish to experience a different life. Other people have felt as I did; Rockford Toews also picked another way in his life because of the inspiration he received from this Thoreau passage. So I became an adult and instead of giving in to our culture's pressure and attending a college, I went my own way; I spent years enjoying and learning many diverse technical trades; I had some fascinating experiences and eventually started and ran my first business. Running that first business allowed me to accumulate some money to use to achieve my dream to separate my real life from the necessity of my working life. I only had to re-enter the outside world three days a week to satisfy the needs of my first company. The time has come for my dream to come true.

It was 1974 when I purchased some rough land; 30 secluded acres in rural North Carolina. I bought a few good horses, basic supplies and an ancient tractor with me. I was on my land; I could shut out the trivial world of careers and live a simpler, more meaningful life that had appealed to me from my father's books. I found that peace and tranquility could be found in watching or doing very simple things. I build many rough rock walls from the rocks I removed from the fields. I plowed and seeded the fields to produce grass to feed my horses. I grew a wide diversity of vegetables and learned to preserve them properly. I planned ahead and then cut enough good firewood to heat my home each winter. For those twenty years; I was truly happy.

It was not all work; the experiences in my woods held my attention and gave me contentment. I found out that the local wildlife would accept you if you are more like them than like a human person. Be very still and do not threaten and you will be conditionally accepted. I learned that my horses made good protection. They alerted me when needed; with kicks and whinnies when they felt trouble. Also that you can be quick enough and lucky enough to grab that snake crawling across your foot before it bites you. I found that the seasons had different odors.

Winter was the best time; the odors were sharp; sometimes musky, occasionally sweeter. I was fascinated by the winter ice storms that reflected the sunlight and blinded my vision while my land echoed with the sounds of the crackling ice. Then as the weather turned warmer, the thawing chunks of ice fell to the ground with heavy wet thumping sounds; signaling the change of seasons again. And for all twenty years I was happy in my little world. I would still be there if my health had not dictated the necessity of leaving my woods.

Thoreau may have meant "Life in the Woods" as a temporary experiment for himself but I personally found it to be a satisfying lifestyle. I found that living fully while making memories was my reward. I believe that memories are a priceless commodity and provide energy for the soul. My soul has these memories of that time and they will never fade while I live.

So every time I hear or read that Thoreau passage again "I went to the woods…" it brings back wonderful memories of my father reading bedtime stories to me and the later times in my life when I found some personal answers.