Important Messages, such as Service Disruption and Opening Times.
Hartgen Consultancy closing dates are as follows:
Friday 20 December 2024 through to Monday 6 January 2025.
During these dates, urgent technical support queries, together with sales orders, will be processed by Email only.
This is exactly the same procedure as previous years.
Are usual opening hours are Monday to Friday 9 AM to 5 PM UK time, excluding public holidays.
J-Say. Talk to Your Computer, It Talks Back!
Purchase the J-Say Training Course!
"I am fascinated by this product. As the only available package to bridge speech output and input, it truly seems revolutionary."
What is J-Say?
J-Say is the world leader in providing a blind person with the ability to control the computer with the human voice.
J-Say brings together Dragon NaturallySpeaking professional from Nuance, and JAWS For Windows from Vispero. However although the product integrates these applications, it also presents the User with an easy to understand interface enabling interaction with the computer using natural language and easy to remember and understand vocabulary.
That's Good Terminology, But What Does it Actually Mean?
It's quite simple. You can talk to the computer and it talks back to you. You can control most aspects of the computer just by using your voice, so J-Say is ideal for anyone who cannot (or does not want to use) the keyboard. See J-Say in Action or Hear Our Audio Podcast!
Who can use it?
As the product has evolved the range of people who are benefiting from the technology has increased. From people who simply want to be more productive and use their voice as an additional means of computer input and control, to individuals who have complex combinations of needs, and who find it difficult
if not impossible to make use of computer technology using traditionally accepted methods of input access and control.
Even more remarkably many people interacting with this technology do not have a visual impairment simply finding it difficult or uncomfortable to use the computer screen and so find the J-Say approach more suited to their needs.
Can I Not Use Dragon NaturallySpeaking and JAWS for Windows Without J-Say?
Please do try it. We would really like you to! Remember, do not touch the computer keyboard. Within a minute or two, you will soon discover it is an extremely frustrating experience. As you dictate text, it will not be echoed back. Try reading the current line of text; nothing will happen. Much of Dragon's interface (including the Vocabulary Editor) will not be accessible.
In addition to our amazing J-Say features listed below, the product gives you:
- Complete echo back of your dictation. This is essential so that, as a screen-reader user, you understand that the text you have dictated is accurately reproduced.
- Complete voice access to all of the JAWS screen-reading functions.
- Many features which have been specially designed for blind people who use voice recognition technology. With 20 years of experience working with individuals who cannot use the keyboard, we truly understand the features people need to ensure they are productive and not frustrated when using the computer in this way. Many of our productivity features go way beyond those which Dragon NaturallySpeaking offers to the sighted user.
- Online help which fully explains how a blind person can independently install and use the software without sighted assistance. Our extremely comprehensive tutorial is designed with blind people in mind, and spoken context sensitive guidance is given in many areas of the program.
What applications does J-Say work with?
J-Say provides access to applications which reflect the most common things which people need to do with computers on a day-to-day basis.
Microsoft Word
Complete access to this application is made possible enabling people, without having to touch the keyboard or look at the screen, to create documents, control text layout and open/save files, amongst other things.
If you need to word process, doing it the J-Say way takes away the need to use either one's hands or one's eyes, do it all controlling the application with your voice and accessing the computer screen with your ears.
Microsoft Outlook
If you need to work with e-mail, J-Say provides you with a set of tools to enable you to take complete control of anything e-mail related. From creating messages to Email navigation, moving and copying messages to folders, to creating special voice commands to send messages to people quickly and easily. Our user interface to Microsoft Outlook provides the user with fast, efficient and effective access and control to all aspects of the application.
Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Brave
J-Say technology provides intuitive access to all aspects of internet navigation and control. From the finding, launching and browsing of WebPages, to the completion of web forms such as searches and shopping carts, J-Say provides the user with natural language internet access like never before.
What Else Can I Expect from J-Say?
- Dictate text in a natural way and have it instantly echoed back to you.
- Rapidly move through list items, words, lines, sentences and paragraphs and have the selected unit spoken back. No need to wait until JAWS has finished reciting the text, just speak the next command.
- Use natural language commands to gain access to the many features of JAWS for Windows. For example, say the words "Be Quiet" to instantly silence the speech synthesiser, or "talk faster" and "talk slower" to change the rate of the speech.
- Create J-Say Text Notes which can reproduce lengthy text passages (such as twenty paragraphs) with a single voice command.
- Easily work with files using Microsoft File Explorer and J-Say Tags. Files and folders can be marked for cutting, copying or deleting.
- Get the local weather or time zone for any city in the world or read the latest news from many sources.
- Use the J-Say Clock to set countup and countdown timers and alarms, or hear Westminster Chimes throughout the day.
- Quickly and easily search on Google, Wikipedia, Amazon, eBay, Youtube and a number of online library catalogues. Ideal for people who are learning to use the internet through to the experienced user. You can also search for, and play, podcast episodes courtesy of the iTunes Store from Apple.
- Search your computer quickly for files, folder or internet favourites.
- Keep track of appointments with J-Say Diary.
- Move directly to specific sections of web pages with J-Say Alerts.
- Listen to the radio, audio files or CD's and control playback from within any program.
- Manage many aspects of iTunes from Apple.
- Dictate text into a portable recorder and have the audio transcribed as text with J-Say Audio Transcription support.
- Chat with your colleagues using Microsoft Teams (Dragon 16 Only).
- Take control of your Braille display. It is no longer necessary to remember the key combinations to control the Braille output. These commands will also prove to be a tremendous advantage to people who can read Braille, but who do not have the dexterity necessary to press buttons or keys on the unit.
- Execute many commonly used procedures within the WINDOWS operating system with voice commands. Good examples would be to move directly to the WINDOWS
Desktop or to maximise the application and document windows, so that the program fills the entire screen. - Teach the software how you pronounce words and phrases with our interface which allows you to easily add them to the vocabulary. Our special utility can also be used by sighted assistants if necessary. Alternatively, use the superb access to the NaturallySpeaking Professional correction system.
- The J-Say Configuration Wizard lets you take control of all the product's special functions without the need to remember a number of voice commands.
- Move through tables easily either within Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Microsoft Word. Again, the navigation language is simple to learn with no complications.
- Use our slick Back-Up and restore utilities to make a permanent copy of your speech files and restore them at a later date if necessary.
- And much much more including support for Microsoft Excel, Skype, Twitter, and Sonos audio devices.
Further Information about J-Say
J-Say can be customised to perform optimally with non-standard applications used in the workplace.
J-Say allows you to dictate text into almost any application and have the text echoed back. In the event that Dragon NaturallySpeaking itself is unable to communicate directly with the required program, the Dictation Box can be used. This is an environment where text can be dictated and edited before immediate transfer to the application. J-Say of course supports the Dictation Box.
Moreover if you are familiar with the many J-Say screen-reading commands, the chances of you being able to work with a non-standard application without the need for scripting are high.
You may also care to Purchase Training from us or your local J-Say Distributor.
Particularly when using the internet, it takes specialist knowledge to convey how JAWS functions alongside web pages and how you can use your voice to best effect so as not to make working with it an arduous process. If your intention is to browse the web with your voice, training is a very important consideration. Training can be delivered on site in the UK or remotely worldwide.
In terms of support, J-Say comes equipped with our extremely thorough documentation relating to installation and usage. Should a problem arise, we use a facility called Remote Incident Manager, allowing us to remote onto the computer and fix problems. It has the advantage that we can hear the audio output, so we are immediately able to understand what JAWS is saying which is essential for visually impaired people. At Hartgen Consultancy, we're interested in listening - not looking.
Technical support to fix difficulties is free indefinitely to individuals. If you represent a company or organisation however, please contact us for details of consultancy visits or support fees. Training is also available to companies and organisations.
Computer Specifications and Software Requirements - What You Need to Know!
Please read this section carefully! If you have any questions, please Contact Us by Email or telephone.
It is important that the computer on which J-Say and associated products are to be installed conforms to the following minimum specification, and that the software requirements are met.
- 16GB of RAM. This is a minimum requirement.
- All releases of Microsoft Windows 10 and Windows 11.
- Microsoft Office. Office 365 is highly recommended!
- JAWS for Windows version 2022 onwatd. We do recommend JAWS version 2024 or 2025. J-Say also functions with ZoomText Fusion 2022 onward.
- Dragon NaturallySpeaking Professional Individual/Legal version 15.3, 15.6 or 16. If you wish to use Dragon Medical, this must be version 4. Within the United Kingdom, please Contact Us! by Email or telephone for pricing details!
- A high quality USB noise cancelling headset/microphone. Please Contact Us! by Email or telephone for microphone recommendations.
- Optionally, a high quality portable digital recorder for audio transcription. Please Contact Us! by Email or telephone to discuss which voice recorder would be suitable!
About the J-Say User Guide
The J-Say User Guide comprises three Books. The first Book consists of the "Installation Guide", which gives you step by step detail on how to install your J-Say product. It goes onto describe the voice training enrolment process and how to configure the Windows operating system, associated applications and the J-Say software to perform optimally. Finally, the "Installation Guide" discusses the hardware and software which should be used to ensure you can get the most from the J-Say interface, all using non-technical language where possible and delivered from the perspective of visually impaired people wishing to install the product.
The second volume consists of a J-Say tutorial or "Learning Module". The tutorial teaches you how to use J-Say with its many features, how you can work with non-supported applications and how you can educate the software to learn how you pronounce words and phrases. Again, the language used is not technical, delivered using step-by-step instructions.
The third book is the Command Summary which lists every voice command which can be spoken.
Please Read a Sample of the User Guide!
Subscribing to the J-Say Mailing List and Frequently Asked Questions
An E-Mail list has been established to discuss all aspects of the J-Say product line. In particular, it can be used as a vehicle for product suggestions or for gaining assistance from other J-Say users. Feel free to Subscribe to the mailing list!
In addition, feel free to read our Voice Recognition Frequently Asked Questions.
What's New in J-Say 23!
Read the Full What's New Page for J-Say 23,"> Listen to the Accessible World Presentation to Hear J-Say in Action!
What the People Say About J-Say!
I absolutely love the speed at which I can get through messages in outlook 2013. It is almost as fast as the keyboard. Moreover, I am thrilled about the fact that I can now update JAWS without waiting for J-Say to catch up.
This release is phenomenal! The new improvements you have made along with the improved accuracy of the latest release of Dragon makes this version the most usable and productive ever.
Regarding J-Say Diary, I think there is a beauty in the simplicity we have here and a recognition that not everybody is going to use Microsoft office and the complications surrounding the Microsoft Outlook calendar. Although I tend to view J-Say as a tool to make me more productive at work, I can see that it is also a way to give access to computers for people who would otherwise find them daunting.
How to Purchase
Prices are in UK pounds and American dollars.
J-Say 23.0 Single User License is priced £400 (approximately $520).
Please enter your JAWS or Fusion serial number here.
An upgrade from any existing version to J-Say 22.0 is priced £100 (approximately $115).
Please enter your JAWS or Fusion serial number here.
An upgrade from J-Dictate to J-Say 21.0 is priced £320(approximately $369).
Please enter your JAWS or Fusion serial number here.
A J-Say Software Maintenance Agreement, (which entitles you to receive the next two paid-for upgrades at a discount price), is £150 (approximately $173. You must upgrade to the current release first if your SMA has expired.
Please enter your JAWS or Fusion serial number here.