Speech recognition software for a programmer?
November 6, 2014 10:46 AM Subscribe
Can speech recognition software be used to write code?
I have a student in my college introductory programming course who has dyslexia. She's already using a screen reader with a digital textbook which helps with the knowledge going in. But proving she understands by writing actual code is a struggle. Can speech recognition software spit out C code well enough to be useful?
I have no experience with Dragon or the like, and our accommodations group is clueless on this.
If anyone has any other technological suggestions that could help, I would love to hear them. (My student is an older, non-traditional student, who - I'm guessing - probably didn't have many opportunities for special therapies or interventions for dyslexia when she was young.)
I have a student in my college introductory programming course who has dyslexia. She's already using a screen reader with a digital textbook which helps with the knowledge going in. But proving she understands by writing actual code is a struggle. Can speech recognition software spit out C code well enough to be useful?
I have no experience with Dragon or the like, and our accommodations group is clueless on this.
If anyone has any other technological suggestions that could help, I would love to hear them. (My student is an older, non-traditional student, who - I'm guessing - probably didn't have many opportunities for special therapies or interventions for dyslexia when she was young.)
I should probably mention that I've seen several discussions around these code-by-voice projects and I recall that several people said that they switched to voice following a bad case of the carpal tunnel syndrome, only to find that a few weeks later their wrists felt better but they have worn out their vocal cords. They suggested that if you want to code by voice, you should be prepared to do vocal exercises à la professional singers.
posted by rada at 11:23 AM on November 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by rada at 11:23 AM on November 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
If there is a lot of repetitive stuff, perhaps suggest trying out a text expander program.
It I want to write Computer Make This Happen, I could set up my thing to offer that phrase when I type cmth or when I start to type some of those letters (i.e., it would also come up if I typed comahap or comp or similar). Fewer letters to type, and fewer opportunities for things to go wrong, because the word is right there, already spelled, or the phrase is right there, already set up.
I use Instant Text and also use AutoHotKey. There are millions of programs like this. AHK is free.
I also use these programs to correct things I spell wrong all the time. :) Some words just will not compute. :)
You can also train VR software in conjunction with autocorrect or an expander to type out Computer Make This Happen when you say "George" if you want.
The possibilities are endless. For more ideas, see Productivity Talk. It is mostly aimed at medical transcriptionists, but the ideas can be adapted for anything, I'm sure.
posted by AllieTessKipp at 11:35 AM on November 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
It I want to write Computer Make This Happen, I could set up my thing to offer that phrase when I type cmth or when I start to type some of those letters (i.e., it would also come up if I typed comahap or comp or similar). Fewer letters to type, and fewer opportunities for things to go wrong, because the word is right there, already spelled, or the phrase is right there, already set up.
I use Instant Text and also use AutoHotKey. There are millions of programs like this. AHK is free.
I also use these programs to correct things I spell wrong all the time. :) Some words just will not compute. :)
You can also train VR software in conjunction with autocorrect or an expander to type out Computer Make This Happen when you say "George" if you want.
The possibilities are endless. For more ideas, see Productivity Talk. It is mostly aimed at medical transcriptionists, but the ideas can be adapted for anything, I'm sure.
posted by AllieTessKipp at 11:35 AM on November 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
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posted by djb at 11:00 AM on November 6, 2014