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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 >