Dragon add-ons help eliminate the need to write custom commands. Additionally, third-party Dragon add-ons often make it faster and easier to navigate the computer, seriously turbocharging Dragon. If you need to work at a fairly fast pace or if you are a programmer, using a Dragon add-on is a “must.”
There are a number of add-ons out there. I can’t really say which one is the best because the choice depends on your workflow. You may want to use one or several add-ons. All of these apps have a free trial period. So, you may want to try them all.
The Dragon add-ons are as follows:
- KnowBrainer (command utility with thousands of commands, VerbalBasic programming language, and dictation in non-Dragon friendly applications)
- VoiceComputer Professional & Lite versions (command utility with auto numbering capability and Intag functionality)
- SpeechStart+ (minimalist command center with Windows resizing and microphone commands)
- Speech Productivity Pro & Standard versions (numerous functions including a fast dictation box, Windows resizing, Dwell, Click, & Wheel control, many developer tools, etc.)
- DragonCapture (this is a fast-loading dictation box)
- DragonEcho (an assistive tool for people with low vision, or no vision users)
- DragonBench (a tool for measuring the speed and accuracy of Dragon)
- DragonPhrases (a vocabulary tool for developers)
- DragonSources (a tool for managing dictation sources)
I worked as an executive assistant and used SpeechStart+ in conjunction with Dragon for navigating Google Chrome, Google Workspace, Windows, and Microsoft Word. I would not have been able to do my job without using SpeechStart+. Scheduling was a large part of my job and this app was the best add-on that I found for navigating Google Calendar and Google Workspace in general. I like SpeechStart+ for its simplicity; there are not a lot of commands to remember. Also, I like its option to use small circles to identify clickable elements and easy to use window resizing commands.
I still use SpeechStart+ and have added Speech Productivity Pro 7 to my stack. I use the SP 7 Pro voice-enabled calculator, dictation box, and Internet search tool practically every day. Three years ago, I would have never imagined
