Fibro World

Photo by earl53This is my first post using voice recognition software. I say the words, and they magically appear on the screen!

I am very impressed by how far the technology has come in the last few years. When I first experimented with voice recognition software two years ago, it was very cumbersome and difficult to use.

I spent more time correcting the computer's mistakes than actually creating content. I spent an inordinate amount of time staring at the screen while I made endless, tedious corrections, which caused eye strain, pain and triggered migraines in no time.

But now, it's totally different.  Much of the time, I can actually close my eyes while I am talking. So goodbye feeling like an ice pick is being jammed through my eye balls! And I no longer have to put up with the burning pain that increased in my neck and shoulder with each key stroke.  Finally, accuracy has improved tremendously. Less typos means less time wasted.

I can see how voice recognition technology can help a variety of people with physical disabilities or limitations.  My friend told me that her father, who has Parkinson's uses it daily.

This is going to take a lot of practice though.  I sound like one of those automated robots you get when you call your credit card company  Maybe it's because you have to note every punctuation.  So you have to actually say, "period, comma, colon."  None of which are part of natural speech.  It's strange talking out loud to myself - I feel very self-conscious trying to think of smart things to say.

I have a feeling that this assistive technology is my ticket to continuing this fibromyalgia blog.  I am hopeful (exclamation mark)!