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Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 for Accessibility
Hands-Free PC Use
Nuance is extremely proud of its role in making computers and other devices accessible to all users. Adding speech recognition capabilities to the PC enables users to work virtually hands free when creating documents, accessing data, or navigating their desktop. Speech recognition has helped people with impairments ranging from paralysis to repetitive stress injury that make typing painful or impossible.
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Using speech recognition takes away the mechanical aspects of typing or handwriting and therefore removes many of the challenges many people face when trying to intelligently express their thoughts in writing. In addition, as speech recognition has improved over the years, more and more people with articulation and pronunciation problems can use the software to complete daily tasks. Because Dragon NaturallySpeaking Professional is Section 508 certified, it can help organizations meet disability management needs. It meets the US government's standards for ensuring software applications are accessible to people with disabilities. |
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Repetitive Stress Injuries
According to the former US Secretary of Labor, “Work-related musculoskeletal disorders such as back injuries and carpal tunnel are the most prevalent, most expensive, and most preventable workplace injuries in the country.”
About 620,000 administrative and white collar US workers suffer from upper extremity disabilities. Recovery from MSDs require a longer absence from work than any other major injury or illness — on average 27 days! Conservative estimates of the economic burden imposed by MSDs, including workers compensation costs, lost wages, and lost productivity are between $45 and $54 billion each year worldwide.
Whether employees are permanently disabled or just in temporary rehabilitation, speech recognition tools can keep everyone on the job and reduce temporary employee costs. For employees who suffer from arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome, speech recognition will change the way they interact with the PC, enabling them to be fully productive without aggravating their condition.
The pain of carpal tunnel and other repetitive stress injuries can grow progressively worse until many individuals can no longer type without pain, perform their jobs, or even complete basic daily activities. By using voice to control the PC and create documents, employees reduce exposure to repetitive strain injuries. Employers save an average of $27,700 for each severe MSD prevented.