Hi there
Having used Dragon very extensively over the last few months, I very much
doubt that using it on a public system would work out - unless you intend
the student to log in to precisely the same machine on each occasion, which
would surely defeat the purpose of making it public access?
Dragon works reasonably well (always assuming you enjoy repeating yourself
on a regular basis) under precisely controlled conditions, but would those
really be achievable in an open area, in which the ambient sound levels are
likely to fluctate widely? Somehow I doubt it.
Incidentally - what about hygiene? Are all of the students who are going to
be using the VRS (voice recognition software) going to be issued with their
own headsets? Microphones and headsets are awfully intimate items, and I am
really glad that I am the only person using mine.
Finally, as what you were actually asking about was sound-proofing
materials - one of the products that works is Acoustic Mineral Wool,
although that might not be the ideal product for what you have in mind - try
the website: http://domesticsoundproofing.co.uk it might give you a start
in that direction.
Regards
Karen Farmer
(Assessor)
North London Regional Assessment Centre
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lynnette Easterbrook" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, September 27, 2004 3:06 PM
Subject: using dictation software in public spaces
I wonder if anyone can give me the benefit of their experience with this
one?
We are looking at installing Dragon Naturally Speaking or similar voice
activated software in our public access computers, for the benefit of
students who may have RSI related problems, dyslexia, or any other
conditions where this facility would be useful.
Clearly we are concerned that students will have as much privacy as
possible, and be able to keep noise levels to a minimum to avoid
inconveniencing others who will be using PCs in the same room.; space, as
always, is at a premium, and it would be difficult to find a separate room
in which to install this equipment.
Has anyone encountered similar diffculties and can recommend any measures we
could take? Are there , for example, some acoustic screens or baffles that
you know of that we could install?
Any helpful suggestions gratefully received!
Lynnette Easterbrook
______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System.
For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email
______________________________________________________________________
|