The rough draft of this post was generated with Dragon Dictation, which is an amazing program and a real time saver.
Dragon Dictation for the iPhone is a FREE app you can get in iTunes. It works on all models of the iPhone, and on second and third generations of the iPod touch.
Using the Dragon software on the iPhone reminded me of a “Dictaphone,” which is a common reference to devices used to record speech to be typed into print.
The basic steps are composing a message, correcting text, and sending a message. You can view a dictation demo here or on the How to Use web page.
Note: the current Dragon Dictation is localized for US English only.
Composing a Message
Speak into your iPhone and the software performs a speech-to-text transcription. Network connectivity is required — WiFi, 3G, Edge — because transcribed text and the results list is sent over the Internet.
There’s a 30-second time limit on recording, but you can repeat to extend the message. There are tips you can use like speaking punctuations for “comma” or “period.”
The support page indicates that capitalizing words can’t be done explicitly, but in fact there’s an obscure link to a blog post article entitled “Some Tips for Dragon Dictation” that is a valuable reference for knowing how to speak commands for formatting, punctuation, and more. Check it out.
Voice recognition accuracy goes down as external noise increases. If it’s too loud to have a telephone conversation, it’s too noisy for speech recognition to work accurately.
Correcting Text
Tapping on a word brings up a suggestion list that you can use to either replace or delete that word. To correct a phrase drag your finger to adjacent words until the entire phrase is selected. By using the record button to speak you can replace any highlighted text. Double tap inside the message to insert the cursor so you can record more text.
Tapping the keyboard icon allows you to use the iPhone text editing functionality on any of the transcribed text, or you can use the keyboard to add more text.
Sending Messages
Tapping on the lower right icon brings up three options: Send Email, Send Text Messages, and Paste into Clipboard.
The Send Email choice brings up the mail program with the message in the body. A great way to send an email when on the road and you don’t have time to type something out on the iPhone’s keyboard.
The Send Text Messages option brings up a pop-up that asks if you want to open the SMS app. The purpose is to remind you to double tap inside the body to paste the text.
The last option is to Copy to the Clipboard. I use this option to move text into the Notes application when writing a blog post. If you forget to use Copy to Clipboard and close the Dragon Dictation application, all the text is lost.
Using Dragon Dictation
Nuance claims that dictation can be up to 5 times faster than typing. All I know is that it saves me time and I’ve only been using it for a couple of weeks.
Longer SMS messages are created faster by using the app, even when you consider the time it takes to open the program, speak the text, copy to the clipboard, close the app, open the SMS app, and paste into the message. Really. Of course my manual dexterity is on the low end of the scale. 
When I receive an email on the road that requires a short reply, Dragon Dictation is the answer. I can do this faster and easier than trying to type on the iPhone’s keyboard.
It’s also pretty good for sharing on Facebook or composing some Twitter messages. Using the reference above for “Some Tips for Dragon Dictation” I found out how to generate the @ and # signs, but am still struggling with how to spell out Twitter names. The key to that: Tempo and Articulation.
I’ve been using the app to generate a rough draft of my blog posts. I can get thoughts out of my head and into a legible format faster than any method I’ve previously tried. I stick blog segments into the Notes application until the entire blog draft is done.
A byproduct of using this app is that I’m enunciating my words better. Pretty soon people will be able to understand what I’m actually saying when I talk. 
Software Notes:
The Dragon software comes from Nuance Communications, who also has the PC desktop program “Dragon NaturallySpeaking Speech Recognition Software,“ and the Mac program Desktop Speech Recognition for Macintosh Users.
Related posts:
- Review of Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10
- Evernote is an Extension of My Brain – Notes in the Cloud
- SMS and MMS Messaging on the iPhone
- Review – Mophie Juice Pack Air for the iPhone
- Do Not Remove These Apps From My iPhone
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I use Dragon Dictation with Voice Over since I am blind. I have run into difficulties when trying to paste the dictated text into the body of the text message since a double tap with Voice Over simply selects the item. Any thoughts?