A Post Created by Voice Recognition
Let me test this out and see if it works. It is rather strange to dictate the text instead of typing it. In fact it’s rather frustrating at the moment because every single sentence I speak I have to correct. And unlike talking to yourself out loud it’s hard to say exactly what you want without adding extra words such as ‘um’, or ‘you know’. And it’s certainly difficult not to add expletives when the program does not do what you think it should. It is nice not to have to type and I suppose it does save my wrists a little bit.
I just told it to go to a
new paragraph. And this is what happened. So it is far from perfect. In fact I find myself speaking very short sentences because it is hard to figure out exactly what to say in a long sentence. I must say though, that it does seem to getting better at recognizing my speech and if I were to become more proficient at this than perhaps it would become easier to create blog posts like this than it is typing them.
I wonder if I will actually be able to write worthwhile and interesting stuff by dictating instead of typing. On the one hand it does seem easier to simply talk to the computer. But on the other hand, it may take a while for me to be able to think about what to write while I’m talking out loud instead of typing. I am finding it quite difficult to keep my train of thought going. I suppose that’s because this is entirely new for me. When I am typing I can use almost all of my brain power to concentrate on what I am writing. Dictating is completely new for me. I’ve not had much time to practice dictating so when I’m trying to write something I have to concentrate not only on what I am trying to write but also on how to get the computer to write what I want it to. I’m hoping that if I continue to practice dictating than the process will become that much easier. At the moment it is extremely frustrating, but even as I write this blog post I feel I’m getting just that much better at it.
Of course when you don’t see in this post are all the corrections I’ve had to make. For example, in the previous paragraph when I said ‘blog post’, it first wrote out ‘bloc posed’, and then when I tried to say it in this paragraph it came up with ‘Balog post’. Needless to say I spend a lot of time saying the things like ‘delete that’, or ‘correct Balog post’. And I also wonder if I might end up creating longer posts filled with more fluff than I would if I were simply typing them. Not to mention my throat will become dry easily if I’m constantly dictating and correcting what I am trying to dictate.
Guess we’ll just wait and see what happens from here.
More Stressful Rides Home and DVDs
The students have all returned to IU. And now I find my rides home from work on my scooter much more stressful. I wonder what it is about a guy on a scooter that requires the drunk college guys to yell things like ‘nice bike’, or ‘yeah!!’ or ‘nice ride’ in very loud, drunken voices as I pass. Who knows. All I know is that there are now many more cars and people to avoid whilst motoring home at 25 mph. But hey, at least I do it getting 100 mpg.
And on a completely different note, I discovered that DVD Flick is a good open source program to convert video files onto a DVD. It isn’t really full featured and the menu creation isn’t spectacular but if you need to put some video files onto a DVD, then it is easy to use and works well.
And yes, boys and girls, this is what happens when you feel like posting to your blog but you have nothing worthwhile to say. Or you don’t feel like creating something better. And you’d rather just jump in bed and read some more Peter Hamilton.
And The Tables Keep Coming
I wonder how much longer I’ll be waiting tables. I’ve started working towards a degree in computers science and the idea is that some day I’ll actually have a real job. One where I can work during the day. It really would be nice to have every evening to myself and not dedicated to serving other people. 90% of the customers who walk into the restaurant are nice people. It’s those 10% pain-in-the-ass customers that can ruin a night. Of course I might not end up in a job that is exactly what I want in computer science either. I’m sure there are some great places to work and people to work with, but then I’ve heard there are just as many terrible places to spend your life. Here’s to hoping I can find myself in a really nice place in 4 years.
In other news, Peter Hamilton’s books keep entertaining me. I’ve gone through the Reality Dysfunction, then the Neutronium Alchemist and now I’m working through The Naked God. But don’t try to start in the middle. I got halfway through part I of the Neutronium Alchemist before I realized it was actually book three in the whole series. I mean, it does say Part I on the cover. Sometimes these series books can be confusing when it comes to figuring out which number it is in the series. But on the good side, at least Hamilton finishes his series before he dies like Robert Jordan. I gave up with the wheel of time after the 7th book. It was just dragging on waaay to long. Just like this post. . . .
My newest project: Life Begins @ 26
I recently decided to go after a different major, computer science. This was the result of much soul searching and a decision to try to do things differently in my life. I have started a new project to chronicle my struggle with my personal development and my desire to make a better life for myself. I have dubbed the project Life Begins @ 26 and I hope I can keep this project going where so many others have failed.
I have also recorded another episode of Spectrum Analysis. I’m really hoping to be able to continue that project for at least the coming semester and I think I will be able to do that. Just as long as Fay hasn’t battered my Miami crew too badly.
08.14.08New Projects, Upcoming Semester
Whew! Finally finished the intense summer session of Calculus I. I was completely unprepared for what I getting into. And the final grade shows, a C+. Damn, but I haven’t received a C in a class since my one bad semester in undergraduate at UCA. Ah well. Nothing I can do except work twice as hard in Calculus II this next semester. And I’m finally taking a computer science class this fall too. I’m sure it will be intense, but hopefully I can push myself hard enough so that I get a lot out of the class.
I am recording another episode of Spectrum Analysis in two hours. If there were ever an example of my start and quit strategy on projects it would have to be that podcast. I remember planning that out in the beginning of 2006 when I was still working at Super 8. But I suppose I should be a little thankful that I haven’t completely given it up and and going to try to record some more episodes. Oh, and I have yet another project in the works. So far this one seems more promising, but as always, I must take my progress with a huge does of salt. Give me a few weeks and if I’m still going this strong, then we can discuss some congratulations and so forth.