10.0

Creating a User Profile

Dragon NaturallySpeaking is speaker-dependant software. To recognize your speech accurately, it must have a

“profile” of you, which it stores in a set of files called user files (often referred to as “a User”).

The first time you launch Dragon, the program automatically brings up its New User Wizard, which takes you

through the process of creating a profile; this includes choosing the right options for your “accent” and

microphone type. After a verification of audio hardware and volume, this wizard can present you with text to

read aloud for a few minutes—this step, called general training, allows Dragon to adapt its acoustic model to

the unique way you sound.

In this lesson, as you discover the New User Wizard, you learn important tips that help optimize the accuracy

of your new user profile right from the start.

• For best results, creating a User profile should be done in your “normal” environment, with the same

background noise and equipment as when you will usually do your dictations.

• If you want to test your microphone independently of Dragon, you can use the Sound Recorder, a

Windows accessory accessible from the Start menu.

Step 1: Make sure your microphone is connected and positioned correctly.

If using a headset, adjust it so that it feels comfortable and stable. The

microphone must face the corner of your mouth (not the front) about a

thumb's width away (you can experiment with the perfect distance for

your particular case.) It should not touch your skin or hair.

IMPORTANT: Noise-canceling microphones only listen on one side;

check that the listening side (often marked by a dot or the word TALK) is

parallel to your face, not tilted up or down.

If your model has a mute switch, make sure it is in the ON position!

On some computers, connecting the microphone automatically brings up

a small window asking what action you wish from this “audio system

event”. Before closing this window, verify that its Microphone option is

highlighted, as opposed to Line In.

Step 2: Launch Dragon (you can double-click its desktop icon). If Dragon has never been used before on this

computer, this automatically brings up the first screen of the New User Wizard (otherwise, choose

Manage Users

in the Dragon toolbar’s NaturallySpeaking menu, then click New.)

Step 3: Enter a name for your User profile: your first and last names, for instance.