annethology
  • Home
    • About Annethology
    • About me >
      • A little more about me
    • About my books
    • Author talks
    • Contact me
    • Forthcoming events
    • World Mental Health Day
    • Privacy
    • Sign up for my newsletter
  • Sugar and Snails
    • Acknowledgements
    • Blog tour, Q&A's and feature articles >
      • Birthday blog tour
      • S&S on tour 2022
    • Early endorsements
    • Events >
      • Launch photos
      • Launch party videos
    • in pictures
    • Media
    • If you've read the book
    • Polari
    • Reading group questions
    • Reviews
    • In the media
  • Underneath
    • Endorsements and reviews
    • Launch party and events
    • Pictures
    • Questions for book groups
    • The stories underneath the novel
  • Matilda Windsor series
    • Matilda Windsor >
      • What readers say
      • For book groups
      • Interviews, articles and features
      • Matty on the move
      • Who were you in 1990?
      • Asylum lit
      • Matilda Windsor media
    • Stolen Summers >
      • Stolen Summers reviews
  • Short stories
    • Somebody’s Daughter
    • Becoming Someone (anthology) >
      • Becoming Someone (video readings)
      • Becoming Someone reviews
      • Becoming Someone online book chat
    • Print and downloads
    • Read it online
    • Quick reads
  • Free ebook
  • Annecdotal
    • Annecdotal blog
    • Annecdotal Press
    • Articles >
      • Print journalism
      • Where psychology meets fiction
    • Fictional therapists
    • Reading and reviews >
      • Reviews A to H
      • Reviews I to M
      • Reviews N to Z
      • Nonfiction
      • Themed quotes
      • Reading around the world
  • Shop
    • Inspired Quill (my publisher)
    • Bookshop.org (affiliate link)
    • Amazon UK
    • Amazon US
    • books2read

About the author and blogger ...

Anne Goodwin’s drive to understand what makes people tick led to a career in clinical psychology. That same curiosity now powers her fiction.
A prize-winning short-story writer, she has published three novels and a short story collection with small independent press, Inspired Quill. Her debut novel, Sugar and Snails, was shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize.
Away from her desk, Anne guides book-loving walkers through the Derbyshire landscape that inspired Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.
Subscribers to her newsletter can download a free e-book of award-winning short stories.

TELL ME MORE

The toddler in my laptop

3/8/2018

8 Comments

 
Picture
Imagine a virus has attacked your vocal chords, when your livelihood – not to mention your sanity – depends on clear communication. You can create sounds, but they are incomprehensible to others – a jumbled babble. Then, one day, as you jabber in frustration while preparing your children’s tea, your toddler’s voice rings out, perfectly articulating what you were trying to say.

When painful fingers, hands and arms rendered my touch typing skills redundant, I needed a similar intermediary between my mind and my written words. Voice-recognition software is that toddler in my laptop. For writers who suffer, like me, from enduring repetitive strain injury, or from arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome or disabilities of a similar nature, it is a boon. Instead of typing at a keyboard, talking to our computers generates words on the screen.
 
But there’s a problem. Like a toddler, voice-recognition software does not follow the logic of the adult human. All too often it misrepresents us, mangling our words in the most unexpected ways. It converts positives to negatives, omits key words or throws in a couple of extras I’m shocked to find it knows. It gabbles strings of nonsense or, when deadlines threaten, crosses its toddler arms and purses its lips and refuses to utter a word.
 
And although we can train the software to adapt to our idiosyncratic inflections (with different profiles available for Australian, British, Indian and two types of US accents), there’s often something lost in translation from sound to font. In the fifteen years I’ve used voice-activated software, it’s never adjusted to my Cumbrian vowels. So when I say moor it serves up more or mower, except on those occasions, like now, when it spells it correctly to make me out a liar. Even allowing for context, it confuses homophones, such that I almost let a character on a country walk mount a style. It’s also surprisingly prudish, balking at expletives like folk or even the inoffensive plastic. It prints that when I want but, prefers and to Anne (especially irritating given my name) and are to a (and, despite training, accuracy is best at the level of the sentence and somewhat hit and miss for words of a single syllable), and it loves to keep me on my toes by tossing out the wrong version of two. It’s also unaware that the colon is an organ of the body as well as a punctuation mark, which might account for why it likes to trick my characters into eating desert instead of dessert. I can easily forget it’s just a piece of software with no inherent motivation when it behaves as if it’s having a laugh at my expense.

Like the young child who takes exception to certain toys and playmates, speech-recognition software is more compatible with some computer programs than others. It’s generally effective with Microsoft Office, but Scrivener users might be disappointed at the difficulty of editing by voice. Early adopters of new operating systems should also be wary. I experienced several months of frustrating back and forth with the help desk before the software engineers produced the upgrade to enable Dragon NaturallySpeaking to communicate with Windows 8.
Picture
The need to closely monitor the output stanches the writing flow, but there are compensations. In the same way that a human toddler draws our attention to the wonders of a knee-high vista, the peculiarities of the electronic version can function in our favour. There’s no need to worry about spelling and, with an unusual word, such as perspicacious, on the tip of my tongue, it’s worth crossing my fingers and gargling a few syllables; in this case, per-space-as came up trumps. The requirement to speak my text is also an asset for dialogue, as I can hear immediately if it doesn’t ring true.
 
Occasionally, like a psychedelic editor, throwing up the wrong word takes my writing in an intriguing new direction, although I don’t think I was doing author Johanna Lane any favours when I repeatedly referred to her poignant literary novel Black Lake as Black Lace. While the odd wag has suggested I write an entire book from its uncorrected output, I’m too fond of my own ideas to give it free rein. It might have suited Ernest Hemingway and Dylan Thomas to write drunk, but I prefer to keep my head clear.
 
If all else fails, as with the peculiar logic of a toddler, voice-activated software can raise a laugh. If there’s ever a prize for spoof poetry, a random sample of my recent toddlerisms should stand me in good stead:

Buying the latter’s first Fraser (buying the lad his first razor)
dispels the same (despair was a sin)
his Kenneth patients in perception (his ken of patience and perception)
the lawyers comes the words (when the worst comes to the worst)
how many literary crisis (how many literary prizes)
you’re winning (young women)
like sinners to (like singers do)
an eternity of society (an alternative society).
 
A version of this post was published in The Author, Winter 2017.

Picture
Feeling a little sluggish after a couple of intensive writing days, I needed a toddlerish response to the latest flash fiction challenge from Charli Mills. The prompt – a yellow tent – has taken me clothes shopping, by way of an update on last week’s post on Celebrating the small successes.


I did indeed come home with a prize from the award night I mentioned – for my debut novel,
Sugar and Snails – as did many others, as you can see from the photo below. I’m the one in a yellow dress looking gormless.

Picture
Sales shopping for a new dress

“You don’t have it in a different colour?” Or a different shape? It could be fancy dress. Marvellous! they’d say. You’ve come as a tent.

“Not at this price,” says the assistant. “But yellow’s definitely your colour.” How does she know? Because of my sunny disposition or because I’m a coward? Or because this frock is taking up space she needs for the winter stock.

“I’ll take it.” If only to hang in my wardrobe along with several other outfits I haven’t the courage to wear. “On second thoughts … Snap off the sales tag! I’m wearing it home.”


Thanks for reading. I'd love to know what you think. If you've enjoyed this post, you might like to sign up via the sidebar for regular email updates and/or my quarterly Newsletter.
8 Comments
Norah Colvin link
4/8/2018 08:17:55 am

I love hearing about the toddler Dragon in your keyboard, Anne. I find it quite fascinating. Next I want to find out how you edit. I can't imagine how it's done. Easily.
You do not look gormless in your yellow dress. You look bright and cheerful. Congratulations on your award.
I like the imaginative turn you took with your tent story. I wish I'd thought of that angle. I think your toddler was up to tricks again with a snap of the sales tag. A fitting conclusion to the post.

Reply
Annecdotist
4/8/2018 05:43:50 pm

Thanks, Norah, I’m glad you liked my toddler’s tent.
As for editing with my toddler, I tend not to do it entirely by voice. If it’s about immediately correcting something it’s misrepresented then you can tell it correct that or I use a hotkey and it brings up a list of options, although even then it’s often not the one you want.
For editing an entire document it’s not too difficult, there’s a select command which lets you say from x to y etc and then you can dictate the preferred text. But having a touchscreen is actually an enormous help, as I can select text with my finger. I also have a few shortcuts and punctuation is often easier on the keyboard than by voice. (At the moment I’ve been overworking the past couple of days and strained my voice so have to be careful.) But some things, for example my website and email addresses, are actually easier through the commands (although I had to train it first).

Reply
Norah Colvin link
7/8/2018 12:28:42 pm

Thanks for the explanation, Anne. It's an interesting process. Yes, you must look after your voice. It wouldn't be good to lose that avenue for writing. Touch screens are great, aren't they? Though I must admit I sometimes forget when I'm moving between devices which has touch and which doesn't. They soon let me know. :)

Annecdotist
7/8/2018 06:46:12 pm

Oh yes, I’m often perplexed by a screen that doesn’t respond to touch. It took a little bit of getting used to, but it’s well worth the extra cost.

Susan Osborne link
4/8/2018 11:46:55 am

I'm in awe of your patience, Anne, not to mention your good humour in managing your toddler! My partner tried this kind of software, admittedly some time ago, but couldn't get on with it at all. He was able to solve his problem by changing his mouse hand but that's clearly not feasible for you.

Reply
Annecdotist
4/8/2018 05:51:41 pm

Thanks, Susan. I think the technology has improved over the years although not as much as I’d like. When you think there are systems like Alexa for phones that don’t require any training – and I believe sometimes get it right – it’s surprising Dragon isn’t more accurate for the average user.
I certainly do get frustrated but if I’m too tense or simply work too long it impacts on my throat – rather like shouting at a small child who doesn’t know any better! But it’s either this or not being able to write at all. I’d have given up years ago if the only option was, as in the bad old days, a manual typewriter.

Reply
Charli Mills
5/8/2018 09:36:19 pm

Your plight is one that would scare many writers -- the loss of typing and tapping. I've often thought about that because I think differently when I write. Do you find that your thinking or writing process had adjusted? Recently, I've begun editing for a client who dictates his chapters and I can go mad trying to figure out the weird lines such as the list you posted. The only reason I can do it is because I know the non-fiction topic. I actually like your yellow dress in the photo, but I relate to clothes shopping for one in your flash!

Reply
Annecdotist
6/8/2018 09:58:31 am

I probably do think differently, but I’ve been doing it this way so long I’m not sure of the exact impact. I know that some people enjoy the mechanics of writing by hand, but that’s worse than the keyboard for me. Generally, I think best away from the screen, but if I come to a piece of work with a few sentences already in mind it tends to kickstart the process.
Doesn’t your client try to correct his work before sending it to you? Otherwise, it’s stream of consciousness stuff, which is hard enough if it comes from a human but impossible from a machine. The examples I’ve quoted are pretty obvious at the time of producing them but I’m sure I’d be lost if I didn’t correct as I went along. More minor toddlerisms do slip through where I have no idea what I meant at the time. They must be even harder to decipher other people’s.
Actually the yellow dress received a few plaudits at the party, and was fun to wear. Mr A was unimpressed with the shoes but as he wasn’t with me it didn’t matter.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Free ebook: click the image to claim yours.
    Picture
    OUT NOW: The poignant prequel to Matilda Windsor Is Coming Home
    Picture
    Find a review
    Picture
    Fictional therapists
    Picture
    Picture
    About Anne Goodwin
    Picture
    My published books
    entertaining fiction about identity, mental health and social justice
    Picture
    My latest novel, published May 2021
    Picture
    My debut novel shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize
    Picture
    Picture
    My second novel published May 2017.
    Picture
    Short stories on the theme of identity published 2018
    Anne Goodwin's books on Goodreads
    Sugar and Snails Sugar and Snails
    reviews: 32
    ratings: 52 (avg rating 4.21)

    Underneath Underneath
    reviews: 24
    ratings: 60 (avg rating 3.17)

    Becoming Someone Becoming Someone
    reviews: 8
    ratings: 9 (avg rating 4.56)

    GUD: Greatest Uncommon Denominator, Issue 4 GUD: Greatest Uncommon Denominator, Issue 4
    reviews: 4
    ratings: 9 (avg rating 4.44)

    The Best of Fiction on the Web The Best of Fiction on the Web
    reviews: 3
    ratings: 3 (avg rating 4.67)

    2022 Reading Challenge

    2022 Reading Challenge
    Anne has read 2 books toward their goal of 100 books.
    hide
    2 of 100 (2%)
    view books
    Picture
    Annecdotal is where real life brushes up against the fictional.  
    Picture
    Annecdotist is the blogging persona of Anne Goodwin: 
    reader, writer,

    slug-slayer, tramper of moors, 
    recovering psychologist, 
    struggling soprano, 
    author of three fiction books.

    LATEST POSTS HERE
    I don't post to a schedule, but average  around ten reviews a month (see here for an alphabetical list), 
    some linked to a weekly flash fiction, plus posts on my WIPs and published books.  

    Your comments are welcome any time any where.

    Get new posts direct to your inbox ...

    Enter your email address:

    or click here …

    RSS Feed


    Picture

    Tweets by @Annecdotist
    Picture
    New short story, “My Dirty Weekend”
    Picture
    Let’s keep in touch – subscribe to my newsletter
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Popular posts

    • Compassion: something we all need
    • Do spoilers spoil?
    • How to create a convincing fictional therapist
    • Instructions for a novel
    • Looking at difference, embracing diversity
    • Never let me go: the dilemma of lending books
    • On loving, hating and writers’ block
      On Pop, Pirates and Plagiarism
    • READIN' for HER reviews
    • Relishing the cuts
    • The fast first draft
    • The tragedy of obedience
    • Writers and therapy: a love-hate relationship?

    Categories/Tags

    All
    Animals
    Annecdotist Hosts
    Annecdotist On Tour
    Articles
    Attachment Theory
    Author Interviews
    Becoming Someone
    Being A Writer
    Blogging
    Bodies
    Body
    Bookbirthday
    Books For Writers
    Bookshops
    CB Book Group
    Character
    Childhood
    Christmas
    Classics
    Climate Crisis
    Coming Of Age
    Counsellors Cafe
    Creative Writing Industry
    Creativity
    Cumbria
    Debut Novels
    Disability
    Editing
    Emotion
    Ethics
    Ethis
    Family
    Feedback And Critiques
    Fictional Psychologists & Therapists
    Food
    Friendship
    Futuristic
    Gender
    Genre
    Getting Published
    Giveaways
    Good Enough
    Grammar
    Gratitude
    Group/organisational Dynamics
    Hero’s Journey
    History
    Humour
    Identity
    Illness
    Independent Presses
    Institutions
    International Commemorative Day
    Jane Eyre
    Kidney Disease
    Language
    LGBTQ
    Libraries
    Live Events
    Lyrics For The Loved Ones
    Marketing
    Matilda Windsor
    Memoir
    Memory
    Mental Health
    Microfiction
    Motivation
    Music
    MW Prequel
    Names
    Narrative Voice
    Nature / Gardening
    Networking
    Newcastle
    Nonfiction
    Nottingham
    Novels
    Pandemic
    Peak District
    Perfect Match
    Poetry
    Point Of View
    Politics
    Politics Current Affairs
    Presentation
    Privacy
    Prizes
    Psychoanalytic Theory
    Psychology
    Psycholoists Write
    Psychotherapy
    Race
    Racism
    Rants
    Reading
    Real Vs Imaginary
    Religion
    Repetitive Strain Injury
    Research
    Reviewing
    Romance
    Satire
    Second Novels
    Settings
    Sex
    Shakespeare
    Short Stories General
    Short Stories My Published
    Short Stories Others'
    Siblings
    Snowflake
    Somebody's Daughter
    Stolen Summers
    Storytelling
    Structure
    Sugar And Snails
    Technology
    The
    The Guestlist
    Therapy
    TikTok
    TNTB
    Toiletday
    Tourism
    Toxic Positivity
    Transfiction
    Translation
    Trauma
    Unconscious
    Unconscious, The
    Underneath
    Voice Recognition Software
    War
    WaSBihC
    Weather
    Work
    Writing Process
    Writing Technique

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Picture
    BLOGGING COMMUNITIES
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from havens.michael34, romana klee, mrsdkrebs, Kyle Taylor, Dream It. Do It., adam & lucy, dluders, Joybot, Hammer51012, jorgempf, Sherif Salama, eyspahn, raniel diaz, E. E. Piphanies, scaredofbabies, Nomadic Lass, paulternate, Tony Fischer Photography, archer10 (Dennis), slightly everything, impbox, jonwick04, country_boy_shane, dok1, Out.of.Focus, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region, Elvert Barnes, guillenperez, Richard Perry, jamesnaruke, Juan Carlos Arniz Sanz, El Tuerto, kona99, maveric2003, !anaughty!, Patrick Denker, David Davies, hamilcar_south, idleformat, Dave Goodman, Sharon Mollerus, photosteve101, La Citta Vita, A Girl With Tea, striatic, carlosfpardo, Damork, Elvert Barnes, UNE Photos, jurvetson, quinn.anya, BChristensen93, Joelk75, ashesmonroe, albertogp123, >littleyiye<, mudgalbharat, Swami Stream, Dicemanic, lovelihood, anyjazz65, Tjeerd, albastrica mititica, jimmiehomeschoolmom