But even this much-refined software left a lot to the imagination. We hope these new voice capabilities save you time and allow you the flexibility you. Voice commands are coming to Word desktop and Word for Mac apps towards the end of the year for Microsoft 365 subscribers.The technology is so prevalent, it's even built into your favorite devices and apps.Here, 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. Accuracy is above 90% right out of the gate, it's fast, it supports multiple languages, and most dictation apps include commands that boost productivity. If you see Dictation cant hear you or if nothing appears on the screen as you dictate.Fortunately, today's dictation software is more Tesla than Model T. I spent hours "training" my voice, only to still have every third or fourth word either missed or mistranscribed.On Mac: check the microphone in System Preferences > Sound > Input. It didn't quite work out that way.
![]() Microsoft Dictate Software Left ABut sometimes lumped into a search for these terms are products that provide something else entirely.For 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 softwareApple Dictation for a free app for Apple devicesWindows 10 Speech Recognition for a free app for Windows usersDragon Anywhere by Nuance for a customizable dictation appGoogle Docs voice typing for dictating in Google DocsAs you search online for dictation software, keep in mind that it can include all different types of apps and services. Ultimate paint for macAnd those with chronic conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome can prevent the repetitive stresses that come with typing, simply by using their voice.But 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. 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.For this review, we've focused on software, whether standalone or embedded in a device, meant for transcribing speech to text.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. And you may run across companies that provide transcription services—using humans to transcribe your voice files 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 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.For 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. What makes a great dictation app?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. 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. ![]() It takes time to adjust to voice recognition software, but it gets easier the more you practice. Glance at the screen from time to time to make sure you haven't blown past the mark.5. Especially on mobile devices, some tools have a time limit for how long they can listen, usually around 30 to 45 seconds. Commands may differ from app to app, so learn the ones that apply to the tool you choose.4. There are different commands for composing, editing, and operating your device. For the occasional dictation user capturing notes and shopping lists, the built-in microphone should work fine. Advice on microphones for dictationWith dictation software, your voice is captured by a microphone, which is included on your device (computer, tablet, mobile) or as part of a specific software suite (e.g., Microsoft Office). Don't shy away from tutorials, help menus, and on-screen cheat sheets. It has a variety of sentence lengths, a few industry-specific words, and several business names. How we tested dictation appsTo be fair for determining accuracy, I used the same 200-word script for all tests. And the highly-rated Blue Snowball USB microphone ($89) has a cool retro look and its own adjustable stand. If you prefer not being tethered to your device, wireless options like the ( Jabra Elite 45h) ($99) might be more your speed. It's lightweight and has reasonably good sound/voice quality. For this test, I used a relatively inexpensive ($36) USB headset from MPOW. On iOS devices, you use it by pressing the microphone icon on the stock keyboard. Apple's built-in Dictation feature, powered by Siri (we'd be unsurprised if the two merged one day), ships as part of Apple's desktop and mobile operating systems. Once I narrowed the final list down, I retested each app with the same script, recorded accuracy, and tried out other features such as file sharing and using the same software in multiple places (e.g., Google Docs and Word).Keep in mind that many of these apps will become more accurate the more times you use them, so the accuracy numbers mentioned will likely improve with continued use.Look no further than your Mac, iPhone, or iPad for one of the best dictation tools. My testing space had very little background noise.In the initial evaluation of 14 apps, I dictated the script one time using punctuation commands, noted accuracy as a percent of words missed or mistranscribed, and recorded my thoughts on ease of use and versatility. ![]() Enhanced Dictation is the way to go for continuous dictating.Apple Dictation supported languages: Enhanced Dictation supports 20 languages.
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