Voice-to-text '3x faster than typing'

A new release of market-leading voice recognition software Dragon Naturally Speaking (DNS) can transcribe your dictation three times faster than most people can type, says publisher Nuance.

Speech transcription under good conditions has long been more accurate than most people type, if used carefully, and DNS has already done away with the tedious, obligatory training process. Clever processing and voice-cancellation mics have made recognition more robust in noisy conditions.

What slows down users typically is correction. This has been made much easier thanks to a new Quick Voice Formatting feature in DNS version 10, launched today, according to Nuance dictation solutions director Simon Howard.

This allows you to format and edit in near-natural language, with commands such as: Delete 'near-natural language'.

This simple command structure extends, in all but the entry-level standard edition, to searches on the web and large sites including Ebay and Amazon. The Professional edition allows you to call macros or VBA modules by voice, allowing complex tasks involving several applications to be performed with a single command.

DNS 10 also allows voice control of the mouse, making the software more usable by disabled people.

The software is available now in three editions: Standard (£79.99 inc. Vat); Preferred is £149.99 (inc. Vat) and Professional (£645.08 ex Vat). DNS 10 Preferred also comes in a £199.99 wireless edition that bundles a Plantronics CS60 Callisto Bluetooth wireless headset, allowing you to dictate several metres from your PC.

See here for full details of differences between the editions.