My best friend…
When I first started writing several years ago, I became obsessed with the Dragon dictation software. At the time, I think this was the only voice dictation available, and I thought it was marvellous, thinking of all the typing I wouldn’t be doing.
Never mind that it took a lifetime to accustom itself to my voice. Originally, I thought all I had to do was talk and my words would magically appear on the screen. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
You must voice every comma, full stop, and line break. I also discovered that sometimes it can be hard of hearing. Make that stone deaf!
One way or another, I went off the idea, finding it too much trouble. It also costs money, something we didn’t have back then.
Moving on to 2022.
I recently noticed that Microsoft Word, the newly updated one, suddenly had a dictation mode, free to Word users. Word is expensive enough, but I thought this was a bonus if it worked.
I still had to voice every blessed comma et cetera, but it was efficient, quick and pretty accurate. In no time at all, I was dictating everything. And my aching arms and wrists thanked me for it.
I prefer to draft longhand, and transcribing my work and my sisters, has always been a bind, time-consuming too. I can dictate a thousand words in ten minutes these days, and I am more than happy with that.
I use Word a lot, and along with Grammarly I can spell check, edit and move stuff around to my heart’s content. It’s also essential if you need to find overused words, name changes, or simply find something you have forgotten.
My best friend ever…
Something that is not my best friend these days is our current browser, Firefox. I have tried them all in the past, never quite happy with any of them. Chrome, for example, almost sent me insane.
Recently, however, something has been happening to ruin my blogging day. Every time I press a like button, chances are it won’t respond. The same thing happens with my comments. This has been happening to a lot of bloggers, apparently. Someone suggested changing our browser, which can often result in a colossal upheaval affecting everything, so I was reluctant to do this.
Until today, that is. I was trying to visit and communicate with everyone like I normally do, and almost all of the sites I visited were a complete waste of time. My temper turned up.
I have no idea why it took so long, as I have never been known for holding back for long. With steam coming out of my ears, I switched off the PC and made a cup of coffee. I had to do something, but what?
The only browser I haven’t tried is Microsoft Edge. Highly recommended and promises to transfer all our favourites from Firefox. Mmm…
But will it let me like what I like?
Only time will tell, but in the meantime, I feel better, knowing I have tried something…
Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes 
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