Hints: Restarting your Computer Over Lunch

Apparently, Dragon uses a lot of RAM (random access memory).  The laptops have 3 Gb of installed RAM.  However you can do some things to optimize the amount of memory available for Dragon:

• Don't run unnecessary programs (will compete with available RAM)
• Run disk defragmenter periodically (Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter). This can be somewhat time-consuming, so don't start it in the middle of the day!
• If you notice recognition accuracy deteriorate during the day, consider restarting your computer to clear your RAM
• Consider restarting your computer over lunch to clear the RAM.

Also, here are some tips to optimize the software:

•  Run the "audio set-up wizard" (Tools > Accuracy center > Check Audio Settings) when making a major change in your dictating environment or when you notice a deterioration in recognition accuracy. (The audio set up wizard can also be opened simply by saying "Check Audio".)
• Let Dragon learn from its mistakes - but do not utilize "training" methods if the mistake occurred because you enunciated poorly, just repeat the phrase with better enunciation. 

Correcting mistakes increases the accuracy of Dragon.  However, not all methods to make corrections are the same.  This is because Dragon tries to use context to recognize words and phrases, not just the audible signal coming from the microphone.

•  The best way to make corrections is to use the command “correct (phrase)” rather than saying “select (phrase)” and then “correct that”. Doing this places the cursor where it was before you issued the command “correct (phrase)”.
• More often than not, just correcting the phrase without voice training the misrecognised phrase is best. This is because correcting misrecognitions by voice forces us to speak the misrecognised phrase in isolation rather than the context of the full sentence and this can actually cause accuracy to deteriorate. Only voice train correct versus misrecognised phrases when the misrecognised phrases are quite “stubborn”.
• Training individual words has no effect on accuracy.  Doing so frequently can lead to a deterioration in Dragon's accuracy for that word.