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Adaptive Software :: If you can afford it!

© Michelle Struik

A few months back while lurking about in a medical live chat room one of the other users commented on the fact that I wasn't "talking" very much. I explained to her that my hands were having difficulties that night and I hoped she wasn't feeling "slighted" in any way. It was then she told me about some new software available on the Microsoft website that I might be interested in ....a voice activation program!

BOY was I excited! I raced right over there, gave the site the once over! Everything looked great.....the price was right (FREE!) until I hit the System Requirements for the program! Seems you require a Pentium 90 or better. Now I know for some of you to use anything less than a Pentium would be using a system best left to the caveman but to be honest I don't know many disabled people living on Handicapped Pensions that can afford such a "beast"! A fair percentage of us are using "hand me down" systems that we've adopted from friends and family. Beggars can't be choosy! :)

Then I remembered another voice activation program from my FidoNet days (yes, I've been a modem junkie for a LONG TIME!) called Dragon Dictate . Considered by some to be the "grand-daddy" voice recognition program and used extensively for years! When I first heard about it I just about died when I heard the price tag attached to it but figured, well, maybe the price is dropped? So off I go to their website to check it out. Has the price dropped? I should be so lucky! Still a healthy $1,200.00 and you require a Pentium 120 for a system requirement.

Now I know software developers are really working hard to help those of us who need help to get online, and well let's face it, the market is a tad smaller than the normal releases of programs but it is becoming rather tiresome having "software carrots" dangled in front of me that I would really benefit from using but don't have the resources or money to afford them! I honestly don't know many parents who can afford $1,200.00 birthday present just to make their kid's life a little easier...do you? :)

So who are these developers making these product's for? Granted some disabled people do continue to work and can afford to purchase these wonderful tools, but, for those of us who don't work they are definitely out of reach! My secret opinion is they are selling these programs to businessmen too cheap to hire secretaries! :) Maybe if enough of them buy the program it will bring down the price! :)

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