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[mjjcoach]

Hi - I am new - just signed-in to see if I can get some information on computer technology for someone with MS who is wheelchair bound - no use of arms or legs. She would like to be able to surf the internet and do other things on her computer. I am interested in finding information on voice activiation.

Thanks - Mary Jane

[annie]

hi mary jane welcome to the forum.

we are a little disorganized today because our most helpful techie just got a promotion to administrator, and a couple of the others who know about MS haven't been around lately. so it may take a little longer than usual for you to get the information you need.

but it will come. everyone here is dedicated to helping others.

all i know is that there is a whole lot of stuff out there.

you might also want to post in the MS forum, someone there may have the exact configuration you want for your friend.

you are a good person to try to help her.

[Bobbi]

Mary Jane, if your friend has XP Pro on her computer, voice activation should be installed, within the "bundle." If not, there are other voice programs which should be able to help out as far as navigation/posting goes.

The voice programs do take some training. By that, I mean, reading stretches of text so that the application adapts/adjusts to voice and retains nuances. Articulation can be quite "twitchy" at times, so it's important to be able to do the training as naturally as possible and also tweak within the pronunciation.

There are additional programs I use as well, such as the ones from zabaware.com, i.e., HAL, for graphic interface.

What I've discovered about voice activation applications is: The more time that a person puts into the "training," the more responsive the programs become ;). I also use Dragon.