Dragon Speech Recognition Licensing for Irish Education
SAMI supplies and renews Dragon speech-recognition software for Irish schools, colleges and ETBs.
The appropriate Dragon product depends on who will use the software, whether the requirement is for locally installed or cloud-hosted speech recognition, and how users and devices are managed.
SAMI provides product and licensing guidance. Assessment of an individual's educational, clinical or accessibility needs remains the responsibility of the institution and its appropriate specialist.
Dragon Professional or Dragon Professional Anywhere?
| Option | Deployment | Typical requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Dragon Professional v16 | Windows desktop software | Locally installed speech recognition for individual professionals or managed groups |
| Dragon Professional Anywhere | Cloud-hosted speech recognition | Organisational deployment where central management and cloud-hosted speech recognition are required |
Dragon Professional v16 is Nuance's current professional Windows desktop product. Dragon Professional Anywhere is a separate cloud-hosted organisational service. The appropriate option depends on the users, deployment environment and current vendor terms.
How Dragon can be used in an education environment
Institutions may consider Dragon for:
- voice-based document creation
- dictation where keyboard input is impractical or inefficient
- administrative and documentation work
- individual speech-recognition requirements identified by the institution
- managed deployments for defined users
What should the institution confirm before requesting a quote?
Provide:
- institution type
- whether users are staff, students or both
- number of users
- number of relevant Windows devices
- desktop or cloud-hosted preference
- individually assigned or shared devices
- remote/virtual-desktop requirements where relevant
- current Dragon product and version, if already deployed
- new licence, expansion or renewal
- current renewal date or quarter where known
Please do not send clinical or confidential disability information through the public quote form.
Existing Dragon deployment?
If the institution already uses Dragon, send the product name, version, approximate user quantity and renewal information.
Older Dragon deployments may need to be mapped to a current product before an upgrade or renewal quotation is prepared.
Dragon licensing questions
What is the current Dragon Professional desktop product?
Nuance currently presents Dragon Professional v16 as its professional Windows desktop speech-recognition product.
What is Dragon Professional Anywhere?
Dragon Professional Anywhere is Nuance's cloud-hosted speech-recognition service for organisational deployments. It has a different deployment and licensing model from the locally installed Dragon Professional product.
Can Dragon be supplied for staff and student use?
SAMI accepts both staff and student Dragon enquiries from Irish education organisations. The appropriate product and licensing route depend on the particular deployment and current vendor terms.
Does SAMI assess whether a student needs Dragon?
No. SAMI provides software and licensing information. An educational, disability or clinical assessment should be carried out by the institution or its appropriate specialist.
Can SAMI renew an existing Dragon licence?
Yes. Provide the current Dragon product, version, quantities and renewal information where known so SAMI can identify the appropriate current route.
Official Nuance sources
- Nuance — Dragon Professional v16
- Nuance — Dragon speech recognition solutions
- Nuance — Dragon Professional Anywhere
Last reviewed: 19 August 2026 · Next review due: February 2027
Related SAMI licensing information
Request a Dragon licensing quote
Tell us who will use Dragon, the approximate user quantity, whether the preferred deployment is desktop or cloud-hosted and any current Dragon version or renewal information.