As some of you may recall, I attempted to create a home made wind screen for my noise cancellation headset.  I plug that into my Sony Voice Recorder and then I can walk around outside composing and dictating as I like.

Testing Home Made Windscreen, DNS 10 & Windy Day

Well, until yesterday, I had not yet had the opportunity to really test the windscreen out on a very windy day.  Yesterday, was not only windy, but it was also noisy and so I got some video of one of my sessions where I’m writing a chapter for a novel in the NaNoWrimi contest (national novel writing month).

This particular chapter was not one of my best as this multi tasking thing of trying to shoot a video at the same time I’m trying to compose a chapter was a little much even for my UBER multi-tasking brain.  I got the chapter out, but it was not terribly good, and I will have to go back and seriously beef up the dialogue later.

You will not below the video also that the transcription that I ran when I was NOT running screen capture was a great deal more accurate than the transcription used in the actual video.  Multi tasking with Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 and the screen capture software that comes with FastStone Capture is not a good combination for accuracy(great programs running alone, but together a bit much even for a new laptop with a fast processor).  That screen capture program created a 500 mb video file and with Dragon compiling typically about 300 mb at a time while its running that’s almost 1 gigabyte of data in RAM.  Now, I do have 3 gb on the machine that was running this, but doing video and voice recognition is a little much. 

In general, the lessons that I learned here are as follows:

1. Don’t video yourself while writing a book
2. Focus on your words more when you are transcribing to a pocket recorder, try and envision what you are doing and what you are saying, you can enjoy the surroundings, but focus on your words (see point 1 as a bad distraction)
3. If you are walking for exercise, consider going a long distance as opposed to back and forth.  Mindless physical exercise can be good for writing, but if your brain needs to make decisions while you are writing it can distract you from your words
4. The equipment will do a great job, focus on your own thoughts and your speech quality.
5. Note. the sound quality in the video is from the microphone on the camera and not the actual microphone with the windscreen

Here’s the more accurate transcription results of the chapter without the video

Case of this quick test C. Dragon NaturallySpeaking is working

Falsely maligned

Jeremy had found his father and is now looking for the medicine man. He was heading in the direction of where the medicine man’s most be, when he encountered his sister else.

"Jeremy I cannot believe that you hurt Shiloh. Even after everyone in the tribe warned you not to act so stupid around. How could you do that, how could you hurt your own little brother. You’re supposed to be looking out for not shooting arrows at them" also said. "I told you I would make you pay for this, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do." She said all she turned and ran in the other direction.

Jeremy didn’t even have an moment to try to explain himself or defend what happened or explained that it had been him at all. Also was as old as

It also was his older sister, and despite the fact that he was now taller and stronger than she was, he still felt intimidated by her. Plus you can really fool around with someone that was the medicine man’s apprentice. The last thing the germinated was the spirit world after.

He kept on walking down the trail and pursuit of the location where the medicine man supposed to be. This took an up-and-down small hill, washed out goalie basically that it filled in with sand over time and when he came to the top of the hill, he could see the medicine man standing near a tree looking at some plants further up the rich. He walked towards the medicine man, and walked with a step it was a little bit louder than normal as he did not want to surprise the man. He definitely felt intimidated by the medicine man, and for some reason this to

And for some reason didn’t want to call out to the older man in jail and area

So instead he chose a course where he would walk relatively loudly up behind the man so that he could hear them coming. "Jeremy, is that you? The medicine man asked

"Yes, it is I. My little brother Shyla’s been hurt in a terrible accident. We were in the clearing hunting for rabbits, when a large bird attacked him. The bird was almost as large as the clearing, swoop down and picked up Shilo in his clutches with this giant feet. Ice shot an arrow at the bird, instructed but it did very little damage and barely slowed down. If it hadn’t been for the fact that the bird got tangled slightly in a tree, I don’t know what would’ve happened to Shiloh."

The medicine man took all of us in without the slightest bit surprised. Jeremy didn’t think that anything in the world could surprise the medicine and, not even the tale of a giant bird that no one ever seen or heard of before swooping down on attacking someone in the tribe.

"Well, let’s go see her brother, and along the way we will stop my hunt and pick up my pack of medicines." The medicine man said. "Described to me, tell your brother was injured, where he was injured in what type of injuries he received." The medicine man continued.

Jeremy said, "he was picked up by the feet of the bird, which seem to puncture his shoulders with the giant closet the bird had, when the bird got tangled in the tree the bird dropped germ

The bird drop Shiloh, and he fell close to 25 feet. He hit the ground in a relatively soft area, but he did break a leg and lost consciousness. I carried them back to our hut which took Olson our to do. He’s there with my mother now in my father’s on his way." Jeremy said.

The medicine man did not say anymore after that, as they walked very quickly to medicine man’s hut which was a few minutes away. Jerry waited outside while the medicine man went into the hut, and came out with a large deerskin bag full of a number of different things that Jeremy could not make out through the boldest. There were some roots and plants picking up sides, but even these he couldn’t recognize, and Jeremy felt that he knew most of the plants in the forest.

The rapidly left the medicine man’s hut, and crossed the tribal common area heading towards Je
remy’s a. When they arrived son already started to set it was getting dark, they inserted into the hut, which was now lit up with a large fire. The fire was lit more for light than it was for warmth. This was apparent because an opening in the ceiling was open wider than normal to let the heat of the fire escape the hut so as not to roast those inside.

The medicine man went over and converse with Jeremy’s mother, and they spoke together for about five minutes. Jeremy couldn’t quite tell what they were saying, but they did glance at him on several occasions. His father wasn’t in the hut, and Jeremy wasn’t certain what he should do next.

Just as he was thinking this, his mother said, "Jeremy go outside and catch up with her father. He searching the woods to find materials and make an appropriate splint for your brother’s leg. When he gets back, it will take the three of you said the little boy’s leg." She said

Happy to have a new mission, and the opportunity to leave the hut with his mother in the medicine man there, Jeremy quickly left in search of his father."

Here’s the transcription results as shown in the video

Case of this quick test C. Dragon NaturallySpeaking is working

Falsely maligned

Jeremy had found his father was now looking for the medicine man. He was heading in the direction of where the medicine man’s ghost be, when he encountered his sister else.

"Jeremy I cannot believe that you hurt Shiloh. Even after everyone in the drive board you not to act so stupid around. How could you do that, how could you hurt your own little brother. You were supposed to be looking out for not shooting arrows at them" also said. "I told you I would make you pay for this, that’s exactly what I’m going to do." She said all she turned and ran in the other direction.

Jeremy didn’t even have a moment to try to explain himself or defend what happened or explained that it had been him at all. Also was as old as

Also was his older sister, and despite the fact that he was now taller and stronger than she was, he still felt intimidated by her. Plus you can really fool around with someone that was the medicine man’s apprentice. The last thing the germinated was the spirit world after.

He kept on walking down the trail and pursuit of the location where the medicine man supposed to be. This took an up-and-down small hill, washed out goalie basically that it filled in with sand over time and when he came to the top of the hill, he could see the medicine man standing near three looking at some plants further up the rich. He walked towards the medicine man, and walked with a step it was a little bit louder than normal as he did not want to surprise the man. He definitely felt intimidated by the medicine and, and for some reason this to

And for some reason didn’t want to call out to the older man in jail and area

So instead he chose a course where he would walk relatively loudly up behind the man so that he could hear them coming. "Germany, is that you? Medicine Anas

"Yes, it is I. My little brother Shiloh’s been hurt in a terrible accident. We were in the clearing hundred for rabbits, when a large bird attacked him. The bird was almost as large as the clearing, slid down and picked up Shilo in his clutches with this giant feet. Ice shot an arrow at the bird, instructed but it did very little damage and barely slowed down. If it hadn’t been for the fact that the bird got tangled slightly in a tree, I don’t know what would’ve happened to Shiloh."

The medicine man took all of us in without the slightest bit surprised. Jeremy didn’t think that anything in the world could surprise the medicine and, not even the tale of a giant bird that no one ever seen or heard of before swooping down on attacking someone in the drive.

"Well, let’s go see her brother, and along the way we will stop my constant pick up my pack of medicines." The medicine man said. "Described to me, tell your brother was injured, where he was injured in what type of injuries he received." The medicine man continued.

Jeremy said, "he was picked up by the feet of the bird, which seem to puncture his shoulders with the giant closet the bird had, when the bird got tangled in the tree the bird dropped germ

The bird drop Shiloh, and he fell close to 25 feet. He hit the ground in a relatively soft area, but he did break a leg and lost consciousness. I carried him back to our hut which took Olson our to do. He’s there with my mother now in my father’s on his way." Jeremy said.

The medicine man did not say anymore after that, as they walked very quickly to medicine man’s hut which was a few minutes away. Jerry waited outside while the medicine man went into that, and came out with a large deerskin bag full of a number of different things that Jeremy could not make out through the boldest. There were some roots and plants picking up sides, but even these he couldn’t recognize, and Jeremy felt that he knew most of the plants in the forest.

The rapidly left the medicine man’s hut, and crossed the tribal common area heading towards Jeremy Scott. When they arrived the sun already started to set it was getting dark, they inserted into the hut, which was now lit up with a large fire. The fire was lit more for light than it was for warmth. This was apparent because an opening in the ceiling was open wider than normal to let the heat of the fire escape the hut so as not to roast those inside.

The medicine man went over and converse with Jeremy’s mother, and they spoke together for about five minutes. Jeremy couldn’t quite tell what they were saying, but they did glanced at him on several occasions. His father wasn’t in the hut, and Jeremy wasn’t certain what he should do next.

Just as he was thinking this, his mother said, "Jeremy go outside and catch up with her father. He searching the woods to find materials and make appropriate splint for your brothers leg. When he gets back, it will take the three of you said the little boy’s leg." She said

Have you have a new mission, and the opportunity to leave the hut with his mother in the medicine man there, Jeremy quickly left in search of his father."

This is a little silly but might actually be somewhat practical.  I work on a dock on a lake in North Carolina.  Out here with the bugs and the frogs and it is generally very peaceful.

The thing is that I do a lot of work with technology, including video conferences.  Now, at night if I run my normal web cam, it doesn’t pick up my image too well, because it is dark in the office.  If I turn on too many lights, it will be a bug magnet.

So a year or two back we had some break ins around the neighborhood in our old house.  I happened through Sam’s Club one day and bought a security camera with night vision capability for $40.  Its been sitting in a closet ever since.

But this evening, I am going to try and connect it up through my web cam connections and see if I can use it for a night vision web cam.

I’m sure there will probably not be too many people in need of this type of setup, but if it works, I’ll let you know!

Its this type of weird stuff that makes my job fun anyway and it sure beats the conversations I used to have about budget software, ERP systems, etc. when I worked as a finance manager. ….

Not too long ago I upgraded my kitchen. We tore out of wall that separated a dining room and a kitchen that were both rather compartmentalized and we’ve put in a great big Island with cooktop stove. Cooktop stoves do not have range hoods to suck out the hot steamy air that would rise up off conventional stovetops. Instead it has a fan built into the center of the cooktop stove that draws the steam and smoke down into the cooktop itself and out through events that go up through the floorboards of the House.

This technology fights the natural progression that hot air would like to make as it attempts to rise, however it does do a good job of minimalizing the impact on the space above the cooktop.

The laptop analogy to cooktop stoves

Now as I look at the fans used on cooktop stoves, I come back to the fundamental question and problem that I always face with my laptop. How to keep it cool and running efficiently and strange conditions especially when I’m working outside life and this evening. I have to wonder if the would be possible to create a desk similar to a hockey table where you play air hockey that has holes in it that move air. Those holes could instead of pushing air of suck air down pulling the hot air surrounding the laptop service down into the desk and out through events. Instead of blowing cool air on the laptop you could take the hot air away essentially.

Similar to a aerosol can that contains compressed air, the air leaving the can could even serve to cool the of the desk. There’s got to be a better way it’s a simple thing…

Personally, I love 3G and apparently so do all cell phone users today. We are all just so thrilled to have been using 3G phone services over the last few years that its almost impossible to contain ourselves.

Now, wouldn’t it be interesting if that were true! 3G is taking forever and a day to actually make it to consumers. As we wait and wait and wait and wait, I thought to myself, I wonder if there might be a high tech alternative? I thought about the promise of wifi and microwave technologies and all sorts of things, but came up short. Then I remembered a company founded by Motorola that almost went or did go bankrupt, Iridium.

Remember the idea of low flying satellites offering up phone access all around the world?

Ever wondered what the rates on that would be like?

Well take a look here:

I searched out a dealer and came across a company called Global Star USA (not an endorsement just the first one I found in Google).

They offer rate plans that look surprisingly close to the cellular rates that many carriers were offering 6-8 years ago.

Plus they offer Data compression options Now!

Maybe, satellite has the opportunity to provide broadband to the home, broadband to the car and broadband to the laptop, not tomorrow or 10 years from now, but today!

It would take a bit of new financing for the satellite phone industry, but if they could convert over users to a satellite option, say stealing a page or two from Dish Network marketing book, they might just hook enough customers to bring down the rates and be competitive with the larger celllular carriers.

Voice Pricing: Airtime Pricing: Globalstar