eLearnSpeech™

Now you can learn how to use your speech recognition software and communicate with your instructor LIVE, in real time, over the Internet and on the phone. This is the fastest, most convenient method to learn how to use speech recognition software and harness the power of speech!

Since 2001, people from all over the world have attended Zephyr-TEC's eLearnSpeech™ training while at work or home. Our clients rave about the benefits of our web based, one-on-one and small group training because of the personal attention of their instructor, in real time via the Internet and without travel fees.

Testimonials

In my first month using Dragon Naturally Speaking my speed and efficiency increased by 300 percent allowing me to input text well in excess of 100 wpm. Learning to use the program on my own would have taken forever. The staff at Zephyr-TEC made learning the program easy and offered numerous tips to improve the software's performance. The macros offered by Zephyr-TEC saved me hours of time I would have spent attempting to create them on own. To make Dragon Naturally Speaking really work for you requires training and Zephyr-TEC delivers the highest quality training available anywhere."

Duane M. French, Director
Alaskan Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

"My name is Bonnie Chilson, I live in Alaska and have recently become disabled and unable to pursue my former career. Through vocational rehab and Zephyr-TEC's eLearnSpeech program, I have been retrained as an instructor of speech recognition.

When I first became disabled and found out that it was permanent I decided I would retrain in a career that my disability would allow. With the help of my vocational rehab counselor, Kathy Turner, I was going to retrain to be a receptionist/secretary. Due to my disability I was unable to type. Vocational rehab purchased the Dragon NaturallySpeaking program and training from Zephyr-TEC.

My instructor was excellent and the Internet training went well. I enjoyed the eLearnSpeech program so much that I requested information on becoming a Zephyr-TEC instructor. During that time there was another disabled individual who lived in Alaska that was having difficulty with her speech software. I was able to go to her house and teach her on a one-on-one basis. I enjoyed it so much I took the course to become an instructor.

I believe speech recognition software was one of the most important and useful tools that our generation has produced. I believe in the future its use will be more widespread. It is not only for those with disabilities but also for those who need to be more productive on the computer."

Bonnie Chilson
Alaska DVR client

Here is how it works:

eLearnSpeech™ Training Details

You will need a speakerphone or a telephone/computer switchbox device that allows your instructor to hear you over the phone while you talk to your computer, or be able to hold your telephone handset for an extended period of time.

Ideally, you should have a broadband connection (like DSL or cable modem) and a phone line available to talk to your instructor. If you use a dial-up modem to gain Internet access, you may experience problems or have poor results with desktop sharing. If a dial-up modem is the only option for you in your area, you will need an additional phone line so that you will be able to work online and talk on the phone simultaneously.

Some assistance by the student will be necessary throughout the training to perform tasks like placing the CD in the CD ROM drive and mousing or keyboarding to share desktops. If you have no hand function, you will need an assistant during training.

How much training is recommended?

eLearnSpeech trainings are held in two-hour sessions. Zephyr-TEC recommends a minimum of 8 hours of training for NaturallySpeaking Professional and 6 hours of training for Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred. This minimum recommendation of 8-hours training for Professional will teach the student to effectively work with NaturallySpeaking in Microsoft Word, add common phrases and your specialized acronyms to your vocabulary as well as create commands to speed up common tasks. To use Excel, Outlook, Internet Explorer or other Microsoft Office applications with NaturallySpeaking you will need to use the Professional edition of NaturallySpeaking and you will need between 2 and 4 hours of additional training per Microsoft Office application. If you would like to use NaturallySpeaking with a non-Microsoft product, contact our Program Managers to determine if speech recognition software can be used with those programs.

Normally, students take 1 or 2 two-hour trainings in the first week and then additional trainings spaced further apart as needed. Between classes students are encouraged to practice using NaturallySpeaking a minimum of 1 hour per day. Daily practice is crucial to developing accuracy and a productive pace with speech recognition software. Only with regular practice will the user be able to memorize commands and become familiar with the dictation style necessary to effectively operate a computer by voice.

Your computer must meet these system specifications to run speech recognition software:

Download this FREE evaluation form, complete it and fax it back to Zephyr-TEC. Zephyr-TEC will evaluate how feasible it would be for your office to work smarter and faster by voice.

View the complete training catalog, including a listing of eLearnSpeech training courses.