October 7, 2000

IMPORTANT NOTICE: I no longer have the Trellix program installed which will let me maintain this version of the site. Instead, I am converting this site to a new format. All new information will be added to the new version of this site.

You can access the new version of this site here:
    New Version of Dragon NaturallySpeaking InfoPages

January 1, 2000

I am posting a new pair of utilities programs called GetWords and PutWords.  These programs allow you to move user created words between different users and versions of Dragon NaturallySpeaking.  You can read about the details at:

Moving User Created Words with GetWords

November 9, 1999

On November 9th, I gave a talk to the Boston Voice User's group about my Natlink package.  In preparation for this talk, I updated my NatLink pakage to version 004.  You can download the latest version of NatLink from:

NatLink Revision History

In addition, I have posted the PowerPoint presentation I gave to the Boston Voice User's group.  You can download the PowerPoint presentation from:

Introduction to Python for NatSpeak Users

August  6, 1999

This is a quick update.  I am (slowly) working on changing the format of this site as discussed in my last posting (below).  In the meantime, I thought that people would be interested in the following new development from Dragon Systems.

What is NatSpeak 4.0

Also, since I have posted my NatLink extensions I have received very little feedback.  I know that I tend to scare people off by warning that I cannot provide support, but I would still like to know if anyone has found the new Natlink system useful in any way (please write).

July 26, 1999

I am considering a new look for the Dragon NaturallySpeaking Unofficial Information Pages.  I have worked out a new layout and I would like people to take a peek at the prototype.  To check out my prototype for a new look for this web site, visit http://www.synapseadaptive.com/joel.  After you look over the new layout, please vote on whether you want me to change the look of this web site or keep it the same.

Also, I posted a very minor update to NatLink.  See NatLink Revision History.

July 24, 1999

I updated the Python macro system to fix a bug that one user encountered.  See NatLink Installation and Setup for the latest version.

Also, since there are now multiple versions of NatLink, I added a revision history page.

NatLink Revision History

July 22, 1999

Added links to the Python reference books.  See Introduction to Python for NatSpeak Users.  Fixed a minor typo (Copyright and Contact Information).  Added missing picture on teens page (What is Dragon NaturallySpeaking for Teens?).

July 20, 1999

I updated the License agreement for NatLink on page NatLink Copyright and Licensing Details until NatLink has been converted to using only published interfaces.

July 18, 1999

Although I worked on the previous updates months ago (now dated July 10th), I never got around to posting them on the web.  I apologize for my lapse in updating my web site but I have been busy.

Also, I understand that some of the information in this site is out of date.  For example, configurable user variables are now stored in .ini files instead of the registry.  Also, the information about sound cards is hopeless outdated.  In a future update, I hope to revisit the entire site to check for obsolete information.  Please bear with me.

In the meantime, I want to post two new programs.

First, a new program which I know that many of you will be excited about.  I am posting an updated version of NatMerge since the older version stopped working when version 3.0 of Dragon NaturallySpeaking was shipped.  You can find the new version of NatMerge on the following page:

NatMerge Utility to Merge DVC Files

Also, I would like to announce the availability of my new command and control subsystem for Dragon NaturallySpeaking based on the Python programming language.  I understand that this may not appeal to as broad an audience but people who want to write really sophisticated macros using Dragon NaturallySpeaking will really love it.  Details can be found starting with the page:

Python-Based Macro System for NatSpeak

I also documented a trick for enabling Select 'n' Say editing in some other selected applications.

Enabling Select 'n' Say Editing for Your Apps

Finally, I added some more details about getting support from me for things ytou read about on this web site (i.e. there is none).

Copyright and Contact Information

By the way, if you want to know what kept the Gould family so busy this spring, check out our new family web site at http://www.gouldhome.com.  Be sure to read up on the details (and look at the pictures) of our great adventure rafting down the Grand Canyon.

July 10, 1999

I added the following topics in this post:
 

What is Dragon NaturallyOrganized?

What is Version 3.5?

What is Dragon NaturallySpeaking for Teens?

What is Number and Currency Formatting?

Command and Control of the Desktop

Select 'n' Say Editing in Other Applications

Active Accessibility Support for Microsoft Word

What Commands are New in Version 3.5?

 
In addition, I updated the following pages with more information:
 

What Versions of NatSpeak are Available? (updated list of products)

What Features are in Each Version? (added Mobile Edition and Teens Edition)

What Version of NatSpeak Should I Buy? (added Teens Edition)

About the Author (my title changed)

 
Finally, in the last update, I switched over to using Trellix version 2.0.  This caused all the page names to change.  You may need to adjust your bookmarks if you have bookmarked a page with an underscore (like "whats_new_on_the_natspeak_infopages").

September 28, 1998

I am sorry that it has been so long since I have posted new information.  I have been very busy this summer.

In this post, I added the following topics:
 

What is Version 3.01 (as opposed to version 3.0)?

What Version of NatSpeak Should I Buy?

How Much Memory Do You Really Need?

Is There an Easter Egg in Dragon NaturallySpeaking?

Tricks for Avoiding Repeated Errors

What is The Dragon NaturallyMobile Recorder?

I also added disclaimers about system configurations in places where I previously indicated that a 133 MHz processor with 32MB was enough to run Dragon NaturallySpeaking.  That configuration will still run Dragon NaturallySpeaking but not when you use BestMatch models, NaturalWord or Windows NT.

I also updated the topic What's the Deal with the Sony MiniDisc Recorder? to reflect the new Dragon NaturallyMobile Recorder.

June 27, 1998

I realize that it has been a while since I updated this web site.  But I have been waiting for the release of Dragon NaturallySpeaking version 3.0 which was just announced.  Now that Dragon NaturallySpeaking version 3.0 is officially public, I will fill you in on all of the details.

Here are the main pages which I have added or changed:
 

What is the New Version 3.0?

What's the Deal with the Sony MiniDisc Recorder?

Personal, Standard; Deluxe, Professional - What's the Deal?

What Versions of NatSpeak are Available? (updated)

What Features are in Each Version? (updated)

 
Here are the new pages which describe the new Version 3.0 features:
 

What is BestMatch Technology?

What is NaturallyMobile?

What are the New Correction Commands?

What is the New User Wizard?

What are Natural Language Commands?

What are the New Scripting Language Commands?

What are the New Keyboard Commands?

 
April 5, 1998

Dragon asked me to update my description of Point and Speak (What is Point and Speak?).  It seems that Point and Speak is not a version of Dragon NaturallySpeaking even though it is based on exactly the same code and shares the same interface (nudge, nudge, wink, wink).

April 2, 1998

I have decided to change the way I indicate what is new on the Dragon NaturallySpeaking information pages.  Instead of creating a new page each time I do a series of modifications, I have decided to modify this single page by adding the modification details at the top.

I am doing this because I believe that it will make it easier for people who only visit the site occasionally to get a good summary of all of the changes that I have made recently.  And I discovered that I was really not saving myself much effort by creating a new page each time I made modifications, because I still had to go back and change the dates on the title page for the site.

There has been a lot of confusion in the recent announcement from Dragon Systems, so I have added to new topics giving my explanations of what is going on:
 

What's with WordPerfect, NaturalWord and Legal Editions?

What is Point and Speak?

 
I also update the feature list with Point and Speak, see What Features are in Each Version?

Earlier this month I indicated that I was looking for people who has ZIP drives and who were willing to participate in a Dragon Systems experiment.  I would like to announce that I have enough people for the initial phase of the experiment, and that those volunteers should be receiving their packets from me next week.

In this release of the Dragon NaturallySpeaking information pages, I of using a modified version of Trellix.  This modified version allows me to change the page names to be more representative of the contents.  (Previously pages were numbered instead of named.)

Last time I updated this site, I added a new utility called VocEdit.  My heart was in the right place, but I want to apologize for that utility.  It seems that VocEdit will not do everything that is advertised to do on version 2.02.  You'll have to wait for future versions of Dragon NaturallySpeaking before VocEdit reaches its full potential.

The specific capability which does not work on version 2.02 of Dragon NaturallySpeaking is the ability to change the behavior of existing word.  You can only modify the behavior of a new word before you added.  I'm going to update the description of VocEdit to reflect this.

Finally, I added a new topic which you may find interesting:
 

How to Change the Enrollment Text

 
March 16, 1998

Well, what I was supposed to be doing last weekend was filling out my taxes.  Instead, as I procrastinated, I developed a new application for users of Dragon NaturallySpeaking.  You can read all about this new powerful feature on the following page:
 

VocEdit: A Utility for Advanced Editing of Words

 
(By the way, I did finally get around to finishing the taxes.).

March 10, 1998

Well things seem to be going quite well with the Dragon NaturallySpeaking Unofficial Information Site.  The simple hit counter I am using is registering approximately 100 hits per day.  I hope that people are getting the information that they need.  Meanwhile, I will continue to expand the site as I find time.

This week, I have added one utility program and one descriptive page.

	AlterNat: A Program to Change the Registry

	Running a Word 97 Macro from NatSpeak

March 5, 1998

I have been getting some good feedback on the site.  I do like hearing from users of Dragon NaturallySpeaking, and use the information that you send me to help guide the development of future versions of the product.  Feel free to continue to write me, but do not count on a timely response.

This week, I have added two new topics to this site:

	How to Add a List of Vocabulary Words

	Where to Go For More Help

March 2, 1998

Well, MediaOne has finally re-enabled my old account so I was able to change my old web page address to point to this new address.  But most people have already found this new address, and it seems to be working out well.

I have been getting a lot of questions about Dragon NaturallySpeaking via e-mail.  I will try to answer those questions as best as possible, and eventually hope that all of the questions and answers will find their way onto these web pages.

In the meantime, I have been working on some utilities which enhance Dragon NaturallySpeaking for those people who want to try them.

I added a new utility program for Deluxe Edition users.  This program allows you to control NaturalText from a script.

	SetNatTx Utility Turns NaturalText On and Off

I fixed the link to SetTitle.zip on the page The SetTitle utility Module.

February 23, 1998

The NatSpeak InfoPages have a new home.  The new URL is http://www.synapseadaptive.com/joel/default.htm.  I want to thank Marty Tibor of Synapse for hosting this site.  I also want to thank the other people who also offered to host this site.

I have now included the Trellix document which was used to build this web site for download.  By downloading the Trellix source document (and downloading a Trellix viewer), you can view the site off-line and even print out sections easily.  Check out the details in:

	How to Navigate around the NatSpeak InfoPages

I updated my list of the best sound cards to buy.  The number one card is the Turtle Beach MultiSound Fiji Pro.  Check out the details on:

	Start with a Good Sound Card

I also added a new topic which explains how to back up and restore your speech files, called:

Moving Speech Files Around

February 16, 1998

I have added a new utility called PlayWave.  This program allows you to recognize from a Microsoft wave file instead of relying on direct microphone input.  PlayWave also make it possible to use the Olympus digital recorder which saves DSS files but includes a utility to convert DSS files into Microsoft wave files.

PlayWave Program Allows Wave File Input

February 11, 1998

I greatly expanded the macro programming section of this web site.  The macro programming section starts with the page Macros and Tricks for the Deluxe Edition.  Among other things, I have explained the syntax and use of the global.dvc file, added an explanation of my new SetTitle utility, added a new tool called NatMerge and reorganized the presentation of sample macros.

Here is a list of some of the new pages I added in the macro programming section:

	All About the Global.dvc File

	The SetTitle utility Module

	NatMerge Utility to Merge DVC Files

	Introduction to the Sample Macros

I also added the following miscellaneous topics:

How to Override the Audio Setup Wizard

February 9, 1998

I have completely redesigned the Dragon NaturallySpeaking Unofficial Information Pages using a new tool called Trellix.  I did this because the InfoPages were getting so large that it was difficult for me to continue to add to them and maintain all the necessary back links.  Trellix has the added advantage of including a site map which allows you to quickly navigate around the InfoPages.

While I was converting the text from standard HTML into a Trellix document, I updated much of the information to reflect the latest versions of Dragon NaturallySpeaking.  For each page, I have indicated the last revised date on the left-hand side along with details about which version that information applies to.