Initial

Complete Initial
Complete Initial Training in the use of speech recognition teaches effective use of speech recognition software for your specific purpose (i.e. EMR, email, drafting etc.).

We skip content and sections that are irrelevant to you, focusing on your needs with the goal of seeing you operational with Dragon ASAP.

You will be able to use Dragon after the first training session, and are, in fact, encouraged to use Dragon as much as possible; however, there will be a slight lack of efficiency and accuracy until all three sessions have been completed. After three sessions, you should find yourself reasonably independent and knowledgeable.  One month after the final training session and you should feel well on your way with using Dragon most efficiently.

Throughout All Sessions

• Integration techniques with your most used applications (i.e. EMRs, legal applications, MS Office etc.)
• Addressing your most immediate goals and answering specific questions (particularly accumulated after the first and second training sessions)

Session One (a foundation of knowledge)

• Microphone handling
• How to dictate for maximum accuracy
• Creating a user profile
• Optimizing Dragon’s options
• Dictation vs commands
• Text and document navigation
• Editing text (inserting, replacing, deleting etc.)
• Best capitalization practices for your purposes
• Correcting text (when Dragon makes an error)

Session Two (all those little details and enhanced accuracy)

• Dictating numbers and special characters
• Dictating uncommon text (file numbers, names etc.)
• Contending with common dictation errors
• Dictating atypical text and phrases
• Formatting text
• Efficiency gains through appropriate built-in command use for increasing productivity (general and application specific; based on your use and needs)
• Refining the vocabulary (perhaps the most important topic of the second session)

Session Three (it’s all about productivity and saving time)

• Steps to resolving constant misrecognitions and addressing related Dragon challenges
• Accuracy increasing techniques continued (another vital aspect of using Dragon)
• Handling non-compliant windows and applications (i.e. EMRs, other applications)
• Creating custom voice commands and/or having custom commands created on the spot for you (a very powerful aspect of Dragon use)
• Speech recognition user profile maintenance techniques, ensuring that Dragon continues to work well for you
• Achieving a high degree of efficiency with time-saving techniques based on your task and computer use

Training Time
3 sessions. If in a group, this is often best followed with a single one-on-one session to customize the instruction and tailor the learning to each user.

Intermediate

Intermediate
If you currently use speech recognition and have had no formal training, Intermediate Training provides you with information to maximize the use of speech recognition in your day-to-day programs. For those who have taken Initial Training from Speakeasy Solutions Inc., Intermediate Training also incorporates a selection of advanced features within Dragon, providing a refresher or more detail.  Topics covered include:

• Fine-tuning your vocabulary for maximum accuracy
• Employing various non-vocabulary related techniques towards maximum accuracy
• Creating voice commands for maximum productivity
• Incorporating speech recognition into your routine
• Using the appropriate commands for specific tasks
• Effective editing
• Speed editing and correcting
• Maximizing the use of speech recognition in your programs

Training Time
1 or 2 sessions. If in a group, there may be a benefit to follow with 1 one-on-one session to customize the instruction and tailor the learning to each user.

Q&A

Q&A
Regardless of your experience level, Speakeasy Solutions Inc. answers your specific questions, imparting knowledge according to your needs.  You set the agenda and we provide the information.

For those who have opted for an à la carte solution (product plus some services, although not a complete package solution), Q&A Training may be an option for exploring the bare bones basics of Dragon use for your purposes.

Training Time
1 session, or more if desired later on.  Group sessions are encouraged for those with the same agenda.

Specific Program

Specific Program
This training is often incorporated in either Initial or Intermediate Training. Some users benefit from more detailed and customized instruction with respect to using Dragon NaturallySpeaking or Dragon® Medical in the programs that they use every day such as Microsoft Word, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Outlook etc. Possible topics are as follows:

• Working with Microsoft Outlook’s idiosyncrasies
• Customizing Microsoft Outlook usage for improved performance
• Tweaking Microsoft Outlook for optimal use with speech recognition
• Customizing your voice interface with Microsoft Word
• Workarounds for some limitations when using Microsoft Word
• Creating commands to quickly create new documents based on existing templates
• Effectively navigating the World Wide Web with Internet Explorer
• Increasing efficiency by using voice commands with Internet Explorer for commonly accessed web sites
• Exploring Microsoft Excel’s array of voice commands
• Using speech recognition most effectively in programs without “out of the box” Dragon commands such as EMR/EHRs and legal applications
• On the spot customization of programs not supported by Dragon NaturallySpeaking

Training Time
1 to 3 sessions, depending on what needs to be learned and whether or not this was possibly covered during Initial Training.  Group sessions are encouraged for those who use the same applications.

Digital Voice Recorder

Digital Voice Recorder
Training in the use of a digital voice recorder with speech recognition teaches you how to use the digital voice recorder, effective use of speech recognition with a digital voice recorder, and customized methodology and use for specific purposes. Topics covered are:

• Creating the digital voice recorder profile source
• How to achieve the highest recognition accuracy with the digital voice recorder
• Transcribing dictation
• Transferring dictation to a correctionist for correction and/or editing
• Correcting transcribed dictation
• Editing transcribed dictation
• Fine tuning the digital voice recorder aspect of your profile

Training Time
1 or 2 sessions, depending on whether or not a correctionist/proof-reader is involved, and the extent of the solution required.

Dictate Mac

Dragon Dictate for Mac
Training in the use of Dragon Dictate for Mac. Topics covered are:

• Microphone handling
• How to dictate for maximum accuracy
• Creating a user profile
• Dictation vs commands
• Editing text (inserting, replacing, deleting etc.)
• Best capitalization practices for your purposes
• Correcting text (when Dragon makes an error)
• Contending with common dictation errors
• Dictating atypical text and phrases
• Formatting text
• Efficiency gains through appropriate built-in command use for increasing productivity (general and application specific; based on your use and needs)
• Refining the vocabulary
• Handling non-compliant windows and applications
• Creating custom voice commands and/or having custom commands created on the spot for you

Training Time
1 session, or more if desired later on.

User & Correctionist

User & Correctionist (Proofreader)
Both you and your correctionist benefit from some of the more advanced features available in speech recognition software. Training involves both you and your correctionist. Topics covered are:

• Speech recognition transcription from a digital voice recording
• Editing and correcting documents saved with user’s actual speech
• Maximizing use of the roaming user profile feature
• Correctionist improving user’s speech recognition profile
• Developing process and workflow for expedient document creation

Training Time
1 to 2 sessions (often 1 three or four-hour session with Correctionist), depending on the extent to which the correctionist will be working with the user’s profile.

Command Creation

Creating Voice Commands
Training in the creation of voice commands (also known as macros) teaches you how to create voice commands to streamline processes, which types of commands to use in specific circumstances, and how to speech-enable third party programs. Some covered topics include:

• Maximizing your productivity with Microsoft Office
• Speeding up your general computer use
• Creating boilerplate or repetitive text
• Creating commands from sequences of keyboard shortcuts
• Speech-enabling the impossible with mouse macros
• Creating commands containing variables
• Creating advanced commands with Visual Basic

Training Time
1 to 2 sessions, depending on the level of command creation that needs to be taught, as well as available samples and scenarios. This is also taught in groups provided the objectives and goals are the same.

Follow-up

Follow-up and Efficiency
Follow-up and Efficiency Training is often quite useful several weeks to a month after any of the above types of training have taken place, as you will likely have developed some questions.

Your use of speech recognition in your day-to-day routine will be studied, and suggestions made for improved use of the speech recognition technology. Any challenges you may be experiencing are addressed. Quick convenience commands to be used by you as a template for future commands might also be created during these training sessions.

Training Time
1 session, and often very useful in groups.

Upgrade

Upgrade
Upgrade Training assists you when you upgrade from a previous version of your speech recognition software. A new version user profile is created and your custom word list and commands imported into your new user profile.

You are taught the upgrade’s new features and given an opportunity to review and enhance your existing techniques and workflow, maximizing your productivity. On the spot command creation tailored to your needs will also improve your experience.

Training Time
1 session, and best held one-on-one.

Technical

Technical Training
Technical Training is delivered to in-house IT/IS staff who are supporting a large number of users in speech recognition technology.  Training involves content similar to the above types of training sessions, although from an IT support perspective.  Technical Training is highly encouraged for multi-user deployments. Topics covered include:

• Choosing the best microphone or input device for a user
• Determining the best workflow for each user; whether an assistant is pertinent or not
• Installation options and potential challenges with existing technologies
• Best practices for standalone and roaming user profiles
• Creating, organizing, deploying and maintaining custom vocabularies, commands and word lists
• Increasing user accuracy without the presence of the user
• Most common user challenges and support issues
• Encouraging users
• Backup options and user profile maintenance
• Detecting and mitigating user profile corruption and how to contend with it when it happens
• Troubleshooting poor user experiences, accuracy, hardware and software issues

Training Time
any number of sessions, based on various factors.