Accessibility at NSW CLIC

(by Andrew Downie on 10 August 2010)

Thanks to Loree

This item was prompted by a question from Loree:

I have a blind friend who wants to create a book. He wants to dictate the book and then verbally edit it since he can’t use a computer. What is the best technology for him to use? Once he gets the book recorded, I assume I will need to get an audio-to-text converter for my computer to make the “book.” Do you have any suggestions for that?

Introduction

While the above question relates to a blind person, the following information is relevant to a much wider section of society. Those who, for any of a variety of reasons, have literacy problems will often benefit from this technology. Similarly, people who have difficulty or suffer pain when using a keyboard may find dictation to be a viable option. The portable equipment discussed below is also appealing to people who do not like being “tied to a computer” when working.

Simple options

While fast disappearing, a standard cassette recorder could be used to dictate the material. The major benefit of this option is low cost. Disadvantages include:

• Poor ergonomics;
• Limited opportunity for editing; and
• Slow (real time) transfer to a computer for subsequent transcription.

A dedicated dictation machine using a micro cassette would overcome the ergonomics issue. Cost would be higher than that of a basic cassette recorder. Transferring material to a computer would also be slow. An alternative to transferring to a computer would be to key the material into a computer while listening to the recording. This could be done from the original dictation machine or, ideally, from a dedicated transcription machine equipped with a foot pedal.

Digital dictation equipment

This equipment offers good ergonomics and fast transfer to a computer. Some examples also allow deletion of unwanted sections of a recording and insertion of material. That is, a recording can be treated very much like text is in a word processor. There is an important issue to be aware of when considering a digital recorder. Models intended specifically for dictation allow the user to stop and start recording while in the one file. “domestic” examples, on the other hand, usually start a new file each time recording is recommenced. A very fluent author may find this latter approach acceptable, but the creation of multiple short files can become a logistical problem for those who like to listen to a passage and then resume recording.

Both Olympus and Philips make sophisticated digital dictation machines. Examples that allow insertion and deletion within a recording are not cheap. They do, however, allow a person to dictate and edit material with a high degree of precision. A file can be transferred to a computer via a USB cable for further processing, discussed below.

Computer-based dictation software

While Loree’s request was specifically for dictation options that did not involve a computer, the following is worth consideration. Subject to issues such as motivation and dexterity, a blind person with limited computer knowledge could use a computer to dictate material and edit it. Inexpensive software such as Dictation Buddy from High Criteria for Windows offers excellent facilities. Ideally, the software would be used in conjunction with a screen reader. The free NVDA screen reader would be more than adequate.

With a basic microphone connected to the computer’s microphone or USB input, the user would need to learn a number of keyboard commands to operate the software. Much of this learning could, however, be avoided by using a dedicated dictation microphone such as the Philips SpeechMike Pro 5274. The microphone includes buttons for controlling the software.

Transcription options

There are two approaches that can be taken. The most appealing is to use speech to text software which, under the best circumstances, produces a near-perfect transcription automatically. On a Windows computer, Dragon Naturally Speaking is the obvious software for this purpose. Subject to a raft of issues, achieving a high level of accuracy may or may not be possible. If many errors are made, the job of editing can be a very tedious one. On the other hand, if all goes well much time and effort is saved.

The more mundane approach is for a competent typist to transcribe the material. The Dictation Buddy software mentioned above is well suited to this task. If this option becomes necessary, a foot pedal to control play, rewind and fast forward would be a valuable asset.