Comments on: Has Any Technology Helped You in Unexpected Ways?

By: Dan Roberts

Dan Roberts — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:05:25 +0000

For me it is a combination of tools, our website on a hosted platform as opposed to hosting it internally, our blogs, the various web 2.0 tools like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube and submitting articles to various web directories.

Of note are Joomla and WordPress, without either of those 2 tools, our marketing would have been much less efficient and more costly.

By: Anita Campbell

Anita Campbell — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 16:07:37 +0000

Hi Ginger,

To use the speech recognition feature in Windows XP, first get yourself a good headset with microphone if you don’t already have one.

Then click on the green “Start” Windows button. Then click on “Control Panel.”

You’ll see an icon for “Speech.” Click on the Speech Icon. Or depending on how you display your control panel, you may see a category called “Sounds, Speech and Audio Devices.” Click on that category and then on the Speech icon.

That will open up a small window which has instructions for configuring your microphone so that the system will recognize your headset and the volume you speak at. Then you’ll also need to go through a few training modules (Click “train profile” in that little window). The training trains the software to recognize precisely the way YOU pronounce words.

You can get started in less than a half hour if you want. I went through all the training modules, as it helped with better recognition of words — but you don’t have to do all of them at first. Just go through one and get started.

Once you set up speech recognition as above, you should see a little Language bar appear on your screen. That little bar contains the commands for when you want to begin dictation. If you don’t see the little language bar, try this:

- On the Microsoft Windows Start menu, click Control Panel.
- Click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options.
- Click Regional and Language Options, and then click the Languages tab.
- Under Text services and input languages, click Details.
- On the Settings tab, click Language Bar, and then select the Show the Language bar on the desktop check box.

Like I said, it works even when using Internet Explorer to access WordPress – you can dictate blog posts. Hope this helps, Ginger. Let us know how it works out for you.

Anita

By: Ginger Derrickson

Ginger Derrickson — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 13:35:04 +0000

Technology: The Internet! My business as a virtual assistant would not even exist without the internet! I have access to a greater diversity of clients than I would if I had tried to build my business in my local area. In fact, during 10 years I have been in business I have never had a client from my local area! And not for lack of trying!

Tool: My GN9350 Wireless headset! It allows me to move about my office or into another room freely. I can make/receive calls on my landline and Skype. I love not being hands free and cord free (Even my keyboard and mouse are wireless)! I can’t wait until they create a model that will combine all 3 phones: landline, VOIP & cell phone!

Anita, how do I access the voice recognition software that comes with Windows XP? I would love to try that!

By: Robert Scozzari

Robert Scozzari — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:54:48 +0000

Skype. A headset. These combined has opened up so much when communicating with clients and prospects.

By: Bryan Eye

Bryan Eye — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:40:14 +0000

Great question, and one that made me think. The first thing that came to mind was the Naturally Speaking speech recognition software I purchased almost a year ago. At the end of the day, when the body is tired of staring at a monitor and slumping over a keyboard, the mind is often still going with thoughts and ideas that need to be recorded. With this software and a headset, I can relax in a recliner or even lay in bed and just speak my mind, while the computer converts everything to text. I bought it thinking I would try it out as a novelty, but it has transformed my productivity.

By: Rose Anderson

Rose Anderson — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:51:03 +0000

Hi Anita. Interesting insights again especially with the headset feature. Anyway, one I could not really live without is my Internet Service Provider. I am almost 24/7 online and do my tasks online, pay bills, accept payments, transact, communicate online. So, I can’t just live without Internet in my life and in my business.

By: Sparky

Sparky — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 16:12:24 +0000

I would definitely have to say my Blackberry. I’ve always had a ‘run-of-the-mill’ cell phone, but when I recently switched over to the Blackberry – everything got easier.

I can respond to sales inquires 24/7. I can reach out to partners and accounts at a moments notice. I can even open documents. It is definitely convenient.

By: Anita Campbell

Anita Campbell — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:54:58 +0000

Mike,

I too love my iTouch. In suburban Ohio it is a little harder to use than in some parts of the country for regular use, because it is harder to find free WiFi. But when I travel it is very convenient. I can even download a video and watch it — my own entertainment system!

– Anita

By: Moise levi

Moise levi — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:16:56 +0000

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By: Kris Bovay

Kris Bovay — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 03:28:26 +0000

Almost hate to admit it but voice mail and PDAs (and no I’m not all that obsessed with the phone) are certainly two of the most important technologies in my life. And the unexpected part of that statement is that really I don’t like phones or voice mail all that much — but I don’t need to like them to recognize their importance in my business, and personal, life.