If he Heaf there are experts have long disagreed about whether using a keyboard can cause must a skeletal problems, such as Koppel tunnel syndrome. But couple of weeks ago, researchers at Temple University in the US, are revealed that there is a direct relationship between repressive, though force movements and inflammation of mussels, bones, nervous and connective tissue.

As a journalist, I spent most of my day using a keyboard, and I suffer from chronic wrist pain. Six years ago, I tried using voice-recognition software to get around this problem. The software didn't live up to the hype, but it did provide a momentary distraction of work as we laughed the ludicrous output.

I've heard that voice recognition software, long way since then, so decided to give it another try. At the moment, there are only two real players in this film, IBM's ViaVoice and scans soft streak in naturally Speaking. Both products are distributed by a scan soft in the UK (www.scans staff.co.uk).

I tested ViaVoice release 10, using a plan to run ex-US be had set. It took two hours to train the software to understand my voice. After that, I was ready to try some packed sentences. "Un you use a wizard makes easy to get started" came out as "and the user was it makes it easy to get starter it." the man York tells me that by correct in recognition errors, the software will make few errors. I launch the corrections when there and left click on the offending word. Bizarrely, the text takes a life of its own. I watch as random words add to the sentence until I'm left with: enough Lorraine of have enough findings off Fifth Firth for her at how half a thing he has pith of Heath off of her new user did makes easy to get start at.

Using by voices correction when there is an exercise in frustration. Left clicking on a word is meant to highlight it, but it doesn't, and even if you don't select a replacement work with corrections window, the dead ones for it at one and one for you anyway.. A. And another and another, for as long as you do there. When I highlighted a whole series of words and re dictated as, as "there" the perimeter wrong time again. I get "of a" "birth" and "Howarth."

If re frustrated that the system doesn't understand "third," I take get the look at some of the other features. There is a utility called What can I say which tells you which verbal commands can be used with application you using. Unfortunately, they are only four commands the can be used to navigate internet Explorer. Jump to open angle brackets favourite close and will brackets, back, Ford, and home. The package understood none of these commands. But his kick she kept getting "please remember to speak clearly and try again." I decided to try drain naturally Speaking seven.

Dragon naturally Speaking goes to the same routine as ViaVoice to train system, however, the analysis is a lot quicker and less painful in Dragon. With very little training, Dragon was able to take some admirable dictation. What I saw on the page was intelligible English, albeit with the of solecism. Here is a line from article in last week's G2. "Of the caterpillar work one morning from uneasy dreams to find it had metamorphosed into a detached house in leafy Surrey, it might look like this." was uneasy sentence, but this is portraying gamey: "for the cat to put her work one morning from uneasy dreams to find it had metamorphosed into a detached house in leafy Surrey, it might look like this."

Dragon also has a sophisticated screen navigation capability. You can even control took personal voice, using a facility called Mouse grid. Intricate icons, dragged documents, and to pre-match everything once did with the mouse and keyboard.

Wise recognition software has come a long way, but it has limitations. There will always be the odd error with common nouns, but that side has been his fault. We are right, I don't "here" the punctuation. By driving a car, you cease to notice changing gear or indicating. And with writing, I don't think,,.! There bleared infatuation breaks my float. I start to think differently and all the natural cadences of "Island writing" a lot. Or distribution is great free mouse-which are usually staccato and full of typos anyway. But not sure I'll ever use the software for writing features Walsh. And I would recommend it for poets:

The ways beside them down; but they Gout-did the startling ways in glee:

Dragon does provide a water punctuation facility, but it doesn't do a great job. Sir ally of voice-recognition converts? Yes, definitely. At least a quarter of my day spent writing mouse, and Dragon will make the task so much easier. Alerts you us have ever been completely hands-free at the computer, but the software will save me a lot of respect.