Transcription Aid ™ for Dragon Naturally Speaking ™

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Transcription Aid™

Comparative Features

Main differences between Dragon NaturallySpeaking® (the "Extras Toolbar") and Transcription Aid®
Comparative chart of crucial features between Dragon NaturallySpeaking® and Transcription Aid®

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Main differences between Dragon NaturallySpeaking® v. 9 (the "Extras Toolbar") and Transcription Aid® v. 4

Dragon NaturallySpeaking® is a remarkable speech recognition engine. However, the correction facilities that it provides are still rather limited for professional use. Enter the newest Transcription Aid® version 4 and access the following major additional features:

Transfer the correction of transcriptions generated by Dragon NaturallySpeaking® Professional, as well as any voice recording generated with virtually any digital recorder, to a third person (transcriptionist or secretary) with the following advantages:

Extensive support of a certified "plug & play" foot pedal (a device that is most familiar and natural to a transcriptionist)
Playback of the voice recording of the author (the dictation or "*.dra" file), while reading the corresponding transcription in the screen, to facilitate its correction by simple comparison between the dictation and the transcribed text
Improvement of the "Speech files" of the dictating author while correcting. Forget about spending countless hours training the speech recognition engine. Increase the author's recognition accuracy to the maximum in very little time and allow him/her to concentrate on what she/he is more productive at: dictation!
Inclusion of useful macro commands (icons to click) for the most repetitive functions needed by a secretary correcting the transcriptions while improving the "Speech files" of the dictating author

Unlike Dragon, with which one can automatically select only full utterances (what was dictated without making a pause) for correction, Transcription Aid® 4 also allows for automatic selection for correction (with the foot pedal) of much smaller (and hence easier to handle), segments of the dictation. Besides, Version 4 incorporates the first in the world "Phonetic Checker" for Speech Recognition in English (other languages in development) and Dragon NaturallySpeaking®!

Unique "No Playback Dropout" technology. Direct editing and correction of the transcriptions with the keyboard and mouse in the main window of Transcription Aid®, without damaging playback of the voice recording of the author (the dictation or "*.dra" file). This allows the following advantages:

The dictating author can insert voice comments (with its corresponding automatic transcription) with instructions for the transcriptionist, anywhere within the dictation
The transcriptionist can substantially increase its output and performance (as it can directly correct the transcription and avoid the use of the Dragon Spell window)
The transcriptionist can hear the playback of the word or phrase to be corrected within the Dragon Spell window, for confirmation purposes, even when the "PlayBack" button is grayed out, by pressing the foot peda
The archival of the original, unmodified, dictation or "*.dra" file for later verification or reference, even after direct corrections have been introduced by the transcriptionist (a must have feature for legal firms and hospitals)

Unlike Dragon, which incorporates another "Not Playback Dropout" option in version 9, the Transcription Aid® technology is available from version 6 to 9 and does not put any substantial delay in the system when switching from window to window...

Simple and intuitive interface, very similar to the world leading Microsoft Word®. A key element to reduce the learning curve of the secretary and maximise output in very little time. This interface provides advanced features, unique to any currently available transcription application for Dragon NaturallySpeaking®, as for instance:

Multilevel Undo & Redo and without damaging the dictation ("*.dra" file)
Powerful Find & Replace also without damaging the dictation
Open and Save Microsoft Word® ".doc" files directly
Export the transcription as PDF document
Main WYSIWYG window, with Normal and Print View, allowing to see the transcription within its physical context (the margins of the page)
Margin justification, paragraph and hanging indents
Tab settings (all standard ones)
Automatic Bullets insertion

"Pack & Email transcription for revision" function. Dictations (".dra" files) get quickly very big. With this exclusive function, the author can easily pack, compress and send through a network (or e-mail) to the secretary, his transcription and voice recording together for revision. All with a single click...:

Back-end conversion of formats and transcription of multiple voice recordings (Batch transcription), using different Users/Authors Speech files. Either from virtually any digital recording application or digital recorder, PDA (Pocket PC, Palm PDA®, Sony Clié®, MP3, WMA) and even Smartphone (a world first feature!). All these facilities automatic, unattended and while the secretary uses the PC for other tasks.

Transcription Aid® 4 can also be perfectly matched, to MAKE A UNIQUE, digital dictation, speech recognition and transcription solution with the forthcoming DictAid®. This is another unique application that greatly facilitates and ENHANCES the learning of and dictation into Dragon NaturallySpeaking®. How about to configure ALL settings of Dragon with a single click; or automatically close the microphone when you start typing anything or opening your transcription and Speech file simultaneously with a single menu command? That's just a small taste of things to come...

Comparative chart of crucial features between Dragon NaturallySpeaking® and Transcription Aid®

Transcription Aid� version 4.x	NaturallySpeaking� DragonPad, with the "Extras Toolbar" activated, version 9	Benefits for User
OPENING AND SAVING OF "SPEECH FILES" AND TRANSCRIPTIONS
Simultaneous opening of both the transcription and the "Speech files" of the dictating Author	NO	The aforementioned "Speech files" must be previously copied in the PC of the secretary
Open native Microsoft Word® ".doc" documents directly	NO	Indispensable feature when the Author dictates in Microsoft Word® and even if they contain images and logos.
Export (save) the transcription in PDF format	NO	Facilitates transfer by e-mail without damaging its formatting
TRANSCRIPTION OF VOICE RECORDINGS
One single button (and Fkey) for transcription of a voice recording (dictation)	NO	Transcription Aid® provides many more sophisticated user settings for this operation. See the detailed comments hereunder
Automatic detection and conversion of any major digital voice recording file format (WAV, ADPCM, MP3, WMA) and whatever its recording quality, for transcription	NO (only transcribes if recording is made in the standard 11.025 Hz, 16 bits, mono or higher)	Transcription Aid® fully supports most digital recording applications, digital recorders, Pocket® PCs, Palm® PDAs, Sony Clié®, MP3 music players and even Windows Mobile® Smartphones
One single button (Fkey) and window Background transcription (while the transcriptionist uses the PC in another tasks) from most well known digital recorders, multiple number of voice recordings and User Speech files	YES (but only for Sony/Olympus and difficult to set up)	Transcription Aid® also provides direct support for Philips and ANY other digital recorder, whatever its make and model. Extremely easy, one single window set up
Background transcription from Pocket® PC	YES	Transcription Aid® also supports this feature with releases 6 and 7 of NaturallySpeaking®
Background transcription from Palm® PDA	YES	Transcription Aid® also supports this feature with releases 6 and 7 of NaturallySpeaking®
Background transcription from Sony Clié®	YES (but only if recordings of stardard quality)	Automatic detection and conversion of ANY ADPCM voice recordings whatever its quality, for transcription
Background transcription from MP3 music player with good voice recording capabilities	YES (but only if recordings of stardard quality)	Automatic detection and conversion of ANY MP3 voice recordings whatever its quality, for transcription
Background transcription from Windows Mobile® Smartphone and other types	YES (but only if recordings of stardard quality)	Windows Mobile® Smartphones can generate WAV files without additional software. Other Smartphones capable of generating either WAV or MP3 voice recordings with third-party software, as for instance the Sony Ericsson P800, P900 and P910i models, are also supported
PLAYBACK AND NAVIGATION OF TRANSCRIPTIONS
Full-support of foot pedal for all playback functions	NO	Playback, move the cursor backwards or rewind a certain number of words (1 to 5) and play them back, all by simply pressing the foot pedal. See the detailed comments hereunder
Play the transcription forward	YES (but only with Menu item, Icon click, Shortcut key or Voice Command)	Transcription Aid® achieves this action either by clicking an icon; pressing a function key (F5); pressing and holding F12 (or the central foot pedal)
Automatic rewind from the cursor position and playback of a certain number of words (1 to 5)	NO	Amazingly useful feature for safe verification and correction. Access this feature either by clicking a button with the mouse or pressing a function key (F3). The (1 to 5) words amount is user configurable with a pop-up menu
Move the cursor word by word backwards in the transcription, without playback	NO	Transcription Aid® also achieves this action by clicking a button with the mouse; pressing a function key (F2); pressing and holding either F11 (or the right foot pedal)
Industry first new "Phonetic Checker"	NO	Allows for automatic identification of the most common acoustic or phonetic related misrecognitions made by Dragon NaturallySpeaking, without having to playback the whole transcription, as well as much faster selection of them with the click of an icon, pressing a Fkey (F7 and F8) or the foot pedal.
Automatic playback from the start of either the current Paragraph, the current Sentence or the current Line	NO	By clicking on the corresponding icons with the mouse or a shortcut combination
Change the color of the text while playing it back, for easier tracking of the cursor location by the transcriptionist	NO	The color of the text is user configurable
Playback segments that has been changed or corrected by the secretary with the keyboard and mouse in the main window of Transcription Aid® ("No Sound Dropout" technology)	YES (but as an option and at the expense of a substantial delay when switching from window to window)	Correction output can be substantially increased as the transcriptionist does not need to use repetitively the standard Dragon Spell window, with high-quality Speech files. Essential feature for lawyers and medical doctors, as it preserves the integrity of the ".dra" file
Insertion of "real-time" Voice comments (as well as color their transcription differently for easier identification) with instructions for the secretary, anywhere within the dictation (or voice recording)	YES (but as an option and at the expense of a substantial delay when switching from window to window)	Another benefit of the "No Playback Dropout" technology. The secretary can delete them directly in the screen, once transcribed, without affecting the normal Playback of the whole document
Playback an unlimited number of utterances in transcriptions from Dragon "*.dra" files and voice recordings	YES (but as an option and at the expense of a substantial delay when switching from window to window)	Transcription Aid® plays back transcriptions from up to approximately 40 minutes long Dragon "*.dra" files, as well as those from virtually any voice recording, whatever its length
EDITING OF TRANSCRIPTIONS
True WYSIWYG interface very similar to Microsoft Word, including Print view	NO	See the transcription within the real dimensions of the page in the main screen of the application and many other options, as in Print view
Multilevel Undo in the transcription without damaging the playback	NO (only one Undo)	Allows for repetitive Undo operations in the transcription, thanks to the unique "No Sound Dropout" technology
Multilevel Redo in the transcription without damaging the playback	NO	Allows for repetitive Redo operations in the transcription, thanks to the unique "No Sound Dropout" technology
Paragraph and hanging indents of transcription	YES (but more limited)	Essential feature for lawyers and other professionals
Margin Justification of transcription	NO	Essential feature for lawyers and other professionals
Five standard Tab Settings	NO (only one Setting)	Essential feature for lawyers and other professionals
Bulleted & Numbered lists	NO (only Bullets are available)	Essential feature for lawyers and other professionals
Graphic insertion	NO	Insertion of virtually any type of graphic in the transcription
Optional Font Type and Size of the transcription by default	NO	User defined
Keeps User defined Font Size after pressing Return, along the whole transcription	NO	NaturallySpeaking® DragonPad uses to get back to the default Arial 10 after inserting a new paragraph
CORRECTION OF TRANSCRIPTIONS AND IMPROVEMENT OF "SPEECH FILES"
Full-support of foot pedal for most correction and editing functions	NO	See the detailed comments hereunder
Automatic selection of a certain number of words (2 by default) for "Quick Correction"	NO	Amazingly useful feature for quick correction. Access this feature either by clicking a button, pressing a function key (F10) or the left foot pedal. 1 to 5 words amount is user configurable with a pop-up menu
Automatic (left foot pedal) selection of a certain number of words from the cursor position (1 to 5 words) and opening of the Dragon Spell window for "Traditional Correction"	NO	NaturallySpeaking® DragonPad only allows for automatic selection of the full utterance in the Spell window. Correction of long utterances, typical of fast dictating Authors, may become substantially slower and difficult
Much faster navigation of the Dragon Spell window	NO	When the Dragon Spell window is opened, pressing the center foot pedal navigates the Choice list downwards; letting up the foot and pressing again, upwards. Speeds up correction output by another 20% on an average
Optional automatic selection of the most probable choice within the Dragon Spell window (normally Choice 2)	NO	Speeds up correction output by 20% on an average
Optional automatic playback of the selected 1 to 5 words when opening Dragon Spell window, for quicker verification of misrecognition	NO	Speeds up correction output by 5% on an average
Playback of the selected (1 to 5) words in the Dragon Spell window, even when the 'Playback' button is deactivated (grayed out), for confirmation of misrecognition	NO	Thanks to the unique "No Sound Dropout" technology. Works with the right hand side foot pedal
Closing of the Dragon Spell window, as when clicking in the 'Cancel' button	NO	Works with the left-hand side foot pedal
Reminds the secretary to run the Dragon Acoustic Optimizer from time to time	NO	Transcription Aid® detects when this operation is needed for improvement of the active "Speech files"
WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT OF "SPEECH FILES", VOICE RECORDINGS AND TRANSCRIPTIONS
Supports "Roaming" Users	YES	Not need to copy the User Speech files in the secretary PC. Also, the Transcription Aid® 'Copy to User' and 'Copy from User' menus are grayed out (inactive) when detecting a "Roaming" user
Advance Speech file management for importing and exporting User Speech files	NO	Transcription Aid® 'Copy to User' and 'Copy from User' menus have built-in "smart" features (i.e. check for the date of the User profile before copying), to avoid corruption when transferring them to and from the secretary PC
Automatic verification of the Speech file used to generate a given transcription ("*.dra" file) at the moment of opening it for correction	NO	Transcription Aid® warns the transcriptionist if the active Speech file is not the correct one, to avoid its corruption when correcting
Automatic creation of a "Transcription Aid Documents" folder, to facilitate document management	NO	File operations within the standard 'Open' and 'Save' windows are automatically addressed to it
User selection of any existing folder as the default "Transcription Aid Documents"	NO	The user can choose where the standard 'Open' and 'Save' windows will be automatically addressed
Pack, Compress and Send or E-mail the transcription and voice recording together for revision	NO	"Pack" links the transcription (".doc" or ".rtf" files) with the corresponding voice recording ("*.dra" file). "Compress", "Zips" them (up to -40%) for easier and faster sending through a network or e-mail connection, to the transcriptionist
Add a Voice comment to the "Package" above, with processing instructions for the transcriptionist	NO	Maximum length of one minute for the voice recording or comment
Automatic archival of the intact original "*.dra" file (the voice recording of the Author), even after the corrections are introduced by the transcriptionist with the keyboard and without using the Dragon Spell window	YES (but slows down the engine a lot, when switching from a window to another one, as NaturallySpeaking has to "map" the transcription with the voice recording)	Essential feature for lawyers and medical for tracking and verification purposes. Ideal to mix dictation with comments at any time of the voice recording (the secretary will simply delete them from the transcription, later on). Another benefit of the unique "No Playback Dropout" technology
USER FRIENDLINESS
Innovative on-line training by Internet (Webminar) available	NO	Allows for personalised and group training, anywhere and at any moment, for a reasonable fee
Innovative on-line request formular for new features	NO	Allows for further improvement of the application according to the needs of our registered users
Informative on-line message windows with instructions and tips to guide inexperienced transcriptionists through the different processes	NO	Most of them include a 'Print' button and a deactivation box
Extensive on-line Help on all aspects of transcribing voice recordings, correcting the transcriptions and improving the Speech files of the dictating Authors	NO	They can also be printed
OTHER INTERESTING FEATURES
The license is always bundled with either a proprietary USB/Serial foot pedal or USB key dongle	NO	The proprietary USB foot pedal provides "plug and play" support for the most useful features above
One single license allows for two installations (author/secretary PCs)	YES (but may require two licences, as it is not easy correct without Voice commands and the creation of a new Speech file by the secretary, in the absence of most features above)	The dictating Author will need to purchase a second USB key dongle or foot pedal for the second installation
Update Assurance Availability (free of charge download of updates when they become available)	YES	Product license MUST be registered within 90 days from date of purchase
Wide choice of configurations	YES	Transcription Aid® is offered in three configurations: Individual (for correction of one Speech file); Full (for three Speech files), and Corporate (unlimited number of Speech files). The same installation is user upgradable with a Code provided by resellers

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