To my good friend Dale,

It just so happens that today I received the latest version of Dragon
NaturallySpeaking the voice recognition program.  True it does take a fast
machine to run it properly, but they have made great strides and is
amazingly accurate.  My Parkinson's also has taken a toll on my ability to
type (which was never very good to begin with).  I can hunt and peck pretty
good when my medications are working well, but late at night and early in
the morning when I most often use computer is when my medications are at
their worst.  For anyone who is a lousy typer, rather because of Parkinson's
or clumsy fingers, I strongly recommend this voice recognition software.

NaturallySpeaking is for dictating text primarily.  Its companion
DragonDictate allows you to manipulate the computer in a more or less hands
free fashion.

There is one problem I have encountered.  People with Parkinson's often have
speech difficulties and tend to slewr their words a bit.  I have to be very
careful to enunciated everything properly in order to get good performance.
But I think that is probably benefit for my long-term speaking ability
because it forces me to enunciated.  I hope those of you who are my friends
do not feel that I have become snobish, if I began talking very properly.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Parkinson's Information Exchange
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Dale Severance
> Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 1999 7:19 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Use of the list by Dale Severance
>
>
> Dear Family
>
> My name is Dale Severance and to many of you the name is unfamiliar and
> therefore I am a new member to the list. However  I joined the
> list  3 to 4
> years ago.  We were a chatty group at that time and there were 7
> or 8 people
> on at that time who were active on the list as frequent presenters or
> commentators on each and ever event. The issue came up many times that the
> non PD messages were drowning out the ability of others trying to
> collect the
> medical knowledge gain from this list. I was one of the first to
> defend the
> right of anyone to use the list for the non pd issues or
> comments. Taking the
> position that anyone could delete the non pd messages. At that time the
> ravages of the disease were minimal for me and I could audit 100+ messages
> in15 to 20 minutes. But as time wore on PD took away that ability to the
> point that I can not use the computer in the same easy fashion.
>
> In fact I almost can not use it at all because of an inability to use the
> mouse. I have to take my medicines and then wait 40 minutes or
> more for me to
> gain enough control of my body to utilize the computer. It now takes in
> excess of an hour to audit  a list of 100 messages and I can not
> always do it
> in one sitting as my body fidgets around my legs are shaking, my body is
> squirming in the chair and my toes curl up. I try to hit the delete button
> but my ring finger cramps and causes the screen to do something
> not desired.
> Finally I get the mouse positioned and I hold it as steady as
> possible with
> my right hand and trigger the mouse with my left index finger.
>
> I now feel sorry for my inconsider attitude to those who
> complained that they
> were being forced off the list when they were so desperately
> trying to hang
> on to this resource. I'm sadden because so many of those not
> actively posting
> to this list are no longer capable. I do strongly support the use of this
> list for non pd use . We are a big family and as such we may be
> hurting some
> of the weaker members. I just felt that I need to express the
> point of view
> that as a family we need to help the weakest members and to bear
> that in mind
> as we use this resource.
>
> Thanks for listening
>
> Dale Severance
>