Anybody else dictate their reports?

[Artyman1200]

Our office has been dictating reports for years. Two ladies type up the reports when we're finished dictating. It's nice in that it eliminates unintentional incorrect copied information from other reports when typing. Our state appraiser commission isn't fond of the incorrect copied information when approving experience. I can type with decent speed, but I've found dictation to be much faster. I know there are several voice recognition programs out there. I would most likely try the software if I were to ever go out on my own.

Anybody else dictate (appraisal reports anyway)? Does dictation seem old school?

 

[Boonders]

Some people in my office still dictate. I've gotten to the point where I'm more efficient just doing it on my own. They've tried the software and everything multiple times. Its never worked out.

But for inspections and things it can be very helpful. Dictating the neighborhood, listings, etc. I think its tacky to do during the inspection, but some people still do that too.

 

[CBBoston]

We use Dragon software and while it's very good, it isn't 100%. There is an additional training period beyond the initial training that takes time. I'm talking about specialized appraisal jargon not basic words. My partner only uses it spoadically because she types faster than she dictates. My typing is aweful so I use Dragon more often. That said I still find doing things like spreadsheets and tables are easier to type. I know there are other voice recognition programs out there but have been using Dragon since its inception about 10+ years ago. We continue to use it mostly because of inertia and any clear evidence other programs are better. These programs have improves sooo much that advice from someone who tried it once years ago probably isn't a good indicator.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

My typing is aweful so

spelling isn't great either is it? ..thank goodness for spell check. Of course it doesn't stop me from having there and their mixed up. OTOH, I once typed close to 100 wpm (BCTS - before Carpal Tunnel Syndrome). At a more modest 30-40 wpm and with the templates I have created over time, I doubt transcription would improve my game, never mind the expense. Since many of my templates have built in spreadsheets - they are also my work templates. I have never considered transcription. Once worked for an engineering firm where "Edna" the keeper of the key to the word processing department, would delay my reports for days just because she wanted to show me how much power she had over us lowly peons...I have had a bad taste in my mouth over dictating work.

 

[redfish]

I am getting a copy of Dragon soon. I am looking forward to it. I can't wait to use it while I am driving around a given neighborhood. Has anyone used it with a laptop and blue tooth head set.

 

[Ryan Bailey]

My boss uses Dragon sometimes, however it seems like it's just easier to type the report because he is always correcting what was dictated, it never works exactly right. The format of the report is very difficult too.

 

[Rev Marcus]

I am getting a copy of Dragon soon. I am looking forward to it. I can't wait to use it while I am driving around a given neighborhood. Has anyone used it with a laptop and blue tooth head set.

I use Dragon 9.51 all day long to dictate. I have tried it with several Bluetooth and wireless headsets, and some fairly high end ones to boot. I have the plantronics cs50, which is good, but most days I use the plantronics 615m (with a wind guard off of another model, makes a huge difference). I bought the cs50 used other wise I would have returned it. The only time I use the cs50 now is occasionally I get a little to twitchy to sit in front of the computer. All of the regular cell phone headsets that I have tried are so inconsistent it is not worth the time or effort. I tried two plantronics ones, I have the newer jawbone and an old jabra. If you want to dictate on the go (though while driving may not be the best idea) I would recommend voice recorder that can output wav or mp3 (dragon will transcribe these formats, I use my ppc for this on occasion) or just a decent mono headset like the 615m and your laptop. The cord on the 615 is close to 10 feet, so I can move around pretty freely. I paid something like $15 for it and $180 for the wireless one. While I can move around a bit further with the other one I am not sure it was worth the money. I guess you learn your lesson. Well I don't, no one can say that I am the one that let Circuit City go under.

 

[rbrienza]

I tried to install Dragon. However, it did not work on my system due to the fact that it is NOT YET compatible with 64x systems. They are working on that and plan on release a version in late spring. I do plan on getting Dragon when the release a verion for my computer.