Overheard - Speech-to-text software

“My wife once clocked me at 120 words a minute, and that’s including making corrections. It’s just insanely fast (providing, of course, you know what you want to say).” David Pogue, Pogue’s Productivity Secrets Revealed

David Pogue says he uses Dragon Naturally Speaking!

The funny thing about using Dragon Naturally Speaking is that it’s tempting to look at the screen as you’re dictating to make sure the software is typing what you’re actually saying.

There’s something mesmerizing about seeing what you say appear magically on the screen as text. And of course you don’t want the Dragon to put down gibberish or make so small mistakes that it appears you’ve been drinking something stronger than coffee all day. So when you start using Dragon, it’s kind of natural that to want to supervise the software.

If you keep looking, though, you’ll probably negate any advantage the software offers. It’s too tempting to spend time self-correcting and self-editing and not enough time talking out ideas. And just like Narcissus, the guy who was fascinated with his own reflection, you’ll perish.

When you’re riding the dragon, you need to focus on flying ahead. My advice? Don’t look down till the trip is over.