Monday 24 March 2003

Pic of the day: On one hand ...

Out of hand again

I regret to announce that my right hand has once again become numb and is hurting somewhat. This seems to happen fairly regularly in the spring, and will normally grow worse until May or June. But this time I will make a preemptive strike: I will start to use my speech recognition software before I need to take a sick leave. In fact, I am dictating this entry with the speech recognition software I bought last year. (Dragon NaturallySpeaking 5.)

My current computer is a bit more silent than the one I used for this purpose last year. Even so, I need to make corrections every few words. So this input method is actually slower than typing. Luckily, many of the corrections can also be done by voice: I open a correction window, and often the correct phrase is listed as one of the top 10. I then just say "choose 2" or whatever the number, and the program automatically replaces the phrase. Nifty!

Also, because I am not used to speaking aloud anymore, I find it hard to express myself as fluently as I do in writing. Not to mention that my throat gets a bit worn. At least it did today, because I had to read a long section of text in order to calibrate the program. I may have to do it again once or twice to further improve accuracy. Then again, the program is also able to learn from my corrections, so it is more likely to get the same phrase right next time.

***

I wanted today to write a follow-up to yesterday's entry about enlightenment. I was afraid to leave an impression that an enlightened person is living in his own world, isolated in a globe of unbreakable glass, and cannot be touched by anyone or reach out to anyone. It is not like that. What happens is that people cannot reach in and push your buttons and pull your strings to make you dance to their tune. You can still reach out, and you can still allow others to reach out to you. It just becomes more conscious. Life becomes more conscious.

There is more; about seeing others as real people like myself, not as tools. About seeing the connection between us, about seeing the greater picture, and much more. But it is not ready to be written. I thought I could do it, I tried, and I tried again. And then my hand gave out. But I just want to say that enlightenment is not about turning your back on people. If my enlightenment makes me scorn those around me, then I am still in the dark.

Thank you for listening.