11.5

TIP You can set Dragon to have the microphone asleep when your profile opens, waiting for your command to

“wake up”, so that no manual action is needed to turn the microphone on. To set this option by voice, say

“open Dragon options” then “click Miscellaneous” then “click Have the microphone on but asleep."

The Importance of Hot Keys, including Microphone On/Off

Pressing a key or two is usually quicker than moving and clicking the mouse (and physically easier, too)—

software programs, including operating systems, typically contain keyboard shortcuts, or ‘hot keys’. Dragon

provides hot keys for various useful tasks, including controlling the state of its listening.

If your computer has a full-sized keyboard, press the plus (+) key on the numeric keypad (on the far right of

the keyboard). Pressing this key turns the microphone on, and then pressing it again turns it off.

If your computer does not have a numeric keypad, or you wish to keep the plus key for other use, designate a

new key to serve as the microphone on/off hot key. This is done through Dragon’s Options dialog box:

Step 1: On the DragonBar, click Tools, then Options (you can also say open options dialog). Click the tab

labeled Hot Keys (you can also say Hot Keys).

Step 2: Click the button Microphone On/Off. A window

entitled Set Hot Key appears.

Step 3: Press the desired key or key combination (F10 is

typically a good choice), then say OK or press Enter.

(If this key is already assigned in another

application, Dragon will let you know.)

Step 4: You are back in the Options dialog box. Click Apply, then OK.

Note that Dragon also offers a hot key to toggle the microphone between sleep and listening.

Key points about controlling whether Dragon “listens”

 Dragon “listens” whenever its microphone is on. Remember to turn the microphone off (or put it into

its sleeping state if appropriate) when you are not dictating, like before answering the phone, speaking

to someone, or clearing your throat; this is a simple but important habit you should develop quickly.

 Pressing its hot key is usually the fastest and most convenient way to turn the microphone on and off;

you can also click the microphone icon on the DragonBar or in the System Tray.

 You can change any of Dragon’s default hot keys, including the microphone’s, in its Options dialog (say

open options dialog, then hot keys).

 You can turn the microphone off by saying microphone off, but then the mouse or keyboard need to be

used to turn it back on. You can say go to sleep or stop listening to put the microphone into a sleeping

state and then say wake up or listen to me when you wish to dictate again.

 Microphone off, stop listening, go to sleep, listen to me and wake up are all voice commands. In

order for Dragon to recognize and execute the desired action, you must pause slightly before and after

but not in the middle of the command.