best free dictation software for android

There are different commands for composing, editing, and operating your device. Take the time to learn a few simple commands, such as “new line” to enter a line break.

The software isn’t smart enough to figure it out on its own. When you dictate, you have to say each period, comma, question mark, and so forth. If you’re not getting 90% accuracy initially, try enunciating more. And if you’re going to spend any time with them, you want to be comfortable. Dictation apps learn your voice and speech patterns over time. Though dictation software is pretty good at recognizing different voices, it’s not perfect. Here are some tips to make it work as best as possible. Tips for using voice recognition software Other considerations were the number of languages and dialects supported and the versatility of a given app (e.g., can it be used within different apps for dictation?). just “period”? The latter, while maybe less intuitive at first, soon becomes second nature and saves time in the long run. For example, does the software require the user to say, “insert period” vs. This was followed by ease of use, including the availability of voice commands. And with the use of artificial intelligence that recognizes your speech with more accuracy the more the apps are used, it’s hard to go wrong-no matter the platform.įor my tests, accuracy was the first element I looked at when deciding which software to choose. But now, it’s actually enjoyable to see your words skip across the screen like you’re dictating to your own personal assistant. I wouldn’t have recommended it back then for the casual user-it was too much work for too little reward. It’s amazing how far dictation software has come in the 20-plus years since I first tried it. Think: taking a walk while “writing” your next novel. And the casual user can dictate notes, a shopping list, a text, or a reminder while performing other tasks, making multi-tasking a reality. Students can write papers and transcribe lectures into notes depending on the software’s capabilities. Look no further than the changed working environment in the wake of COVID-19: more working from home means more opportunity to do things like dictate emails. And those with chronic conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome can prevent the repetitive stresses that come with typing, simply by using their voice.īut as the technology has improved over the last 20 years and costs have come down, dictation software is now accessible to everyone as a tool to increase productivity almost instantly. For example, if you’re unable to use your hands, you can still operate a computer, create documents, and access the web with dictation technology. Why would you want to do that? For starters, dictation software provides accessibility to those with disabilities-both physical and language-based-to access technologies and be more productive. These are fine for scheduling meetings, playing music, and finding a place to eat, but they aren’t designed to transcribe your articles, meetings, and other documents.įor this review, we’ve focused on software, whether standalone or embedded in a device, meant for transcribing speech to text. Then there are those AI assistants built into many of the devices we use each day: Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa, and Microsoft’s Cortana. And you may run across companies that provide transcription services-using humans to transcribe your voice files to text. Others market themselves as personal AI assistants (performing all computer tasks using speech) and may include a dictation component. But sometimes lumped into a search for these terms are products that provide something else entirely.įor example, some products will transcribe audio files to text, but they do not transcribe your voice to text in real-time. The terms dictation software, speech-to-text, voice recognition, voice-to-text, and speech recognition can all mean a program that converts your voice to text on a screen in real-time. The best dictation software What is dictation software?Īs you search online for dictation software, keep in mind that it can include all different types of apps and services. And, of course, I’ll provide a detailed review of our top picks for the best dictation software. In this article, I’ll walk you through the different types of speech-to-text software, why you should give them a try, and provide tips on getting the best results. Plus, you’ll have multiple languages to choose from and voice commands to further improve productivity. You can now dictate as fast as you want and be assured that at least 90% of what you say will be accurately transcribed. Today’s dictation technology is light years ahead. Back then, it was clunky, slow-going, and frustrating for those of us early adopters. Dictation software has come a long way since it was first released commercially in the early 1990s.

Best free dictation software for android