Roy Capel's J-Say Story

My name is Roy Capel and I suffer with Multiple Sclerosis, which means that I cannot walk and use a wheelchair full-time. I am visually impaired. I do have some sight but not enough to read text on a computer screen.

I have been unable for over 20 years to write a letter myself and I am unable to use my hands to dial telephone numbers or to use a keyboard of any sort.

I wrote a book approximately seven years ago using a voice activated word processor. However I did need a lot of help both correcting and reading the content.

Using J-Say which I now have, I need no help whatsoever. The computer speaks back to me and lets me know what I have dictated which makes it possible for me to instantly go back and correct text if I need to. This is very important as I live on my own.

I have a calendar which I can use on the computer which means I can make a note of appointments as far ahead as I like, even into next year if I want to. I look at the calendar first thing every morning so I can be told of appointments I have made for that day.

I can now use email which I have not had access to before. I can compose an email with my voice and, when complete, I simply say “Send Message” and it is sent to the appropriate person. My computer will read back any replies which I have received and, because I live on my own, is great because I have complete privacy.

Best of all, I can use the computer to dial telephone numbers. I have over 70 contacts input into the computer at present but I can store many many more of them.

J-Say has completely revolutionised my life. There was previously very little I could do without help, however, now I have my computer, I can be occupied all day writing letters and email, together with dialling telephone numbers to talk to people. I am looking forward to learning how to do more things in the future, particularly using the Internet.