Instant Text

The learning curve can be done and the success is well worth it.

Posted by Patty on Wed, 06/13/01 at 16:01:48

In Reply to: Any advice for a first time user?

I have posted a link to a prior strand in the archives, I think from 11/27/00, which is very similar to your concerns.

YES, you can maximize your progress with the adapting to a new program. The first thing is to keep in mind that this is a sophisticated program with the capability to do quite a lot for you when you are ready, so the learning curve is very worth the effort. It may not be instant gratification as some things are in life, but it will be helping you in very short order, and well worth the time invested in adapting. Actually, I found that I did not feel a big learning curve when I stuck with short sessions for the first few days.

I personally think that I got adapted best with short sessions at a time, such as 5 or 10 minutes per hour for the first day, then a little longer each time or each day. This way I got somewhat accustomed to a new program, but also kept up with my usual work productivity and did not get stressed out about it. I also notice that with most new learning, it is really the number of times you initiate and attempt a new task that is what trains your brain to adapt, not so much the length of time you stay at the task! In other words, several sessions for 5 minutes each - whether it be piano playing to learn a new piece or Instant Text or driving someone else's car and figuring out where the buttons are located - - the task doesn't matter - several short sessions will train the brain faster than one prolonged session. At least that is my experience!

For glossaries, I started by combining together MedWords4 and MedPhrases5, which are both included with your program. I combined those and re-named this as my "Basic" glossary. This gave me one glossary to start working with. To that glossary, you could "include" the ages glossary and the drugs glossary. Then when you have client work glossaries made, those can be used as well.

Try transcribing with the Instant Text linked onto your document for just 5 minutes per hour the first day. By day two you will be up to 10, and so forth, so that by the end of a week or so you will be moving right along.

Hopefully the link I included here will help you as well.

Patty A.