Is Using Voice Dictation A Sensible Option?

For years, voice dictation that was precise, immediate, and simple was promised. Today, that promise has (in large part) been fulfilled, but should you use your voice when writing your next work report, dissertation, or novel? It seems that maybe not.

We Don't Talk Like We Write

Because writing isn't a sequential process like reading is, it presents the biggest challenge when narrating any major writing. Speaking the printed word out loud is rarely effective since we rarely plan out entire sentences and paragraphs on the spot. Writing, though, is back and forth. We pause and reflect. After those thoughts are in order, start typing like crazy. The present dictation systems' design makes it challenging to have this natural writing cadence function well. Alternately, we can change how we write to accommodate dictation. Regardless of what you write, the author has undoubtedly tried, but it doesn't seem to be helpful for the writing process.

Still a pain to format and edit

Text formatting and editing make up a sizable portion of writing. In terms of punctuation and formatting, no dictation system has ever achieved perfection. Some of them do an excellent job of determining the placement of commas and periods. Nonetheless, speaking instructing the system explicitly where to use punctuation or, for example, when to bold or italicize text, remains the most reliable technique.

In shared spaces, voice dictation is ineffective.

Despite the fact that many individuals work from home, open-plan offices and other shared workspaces are still widely used. Producing text in a noisy manner becomes difficult as a result. Could you image a room full of people talking at their laptops, not to mention mechanical keyboards being annoying when someone is typing away on one? Photo Credit: HelpCenter-MoreApp

The Dangers of Talking Too Much

Speaking for extended periods of time is bad for anyone's voice, which is another reason voice dictation hasn't become the standard writing method. Although we've had decades to develop better typing ergonomics, excessive typing will still impose some strain on your hands. We don't even have "ergonomic" microphones.

The hands-free and mobile typing technology is excellent

Writing little passages of text while writing hands-free is where voice dictation really shines. For instance, you may dictate a text message to be used while driving with your preferred app. Voice typing is typically less annoying than using a tiny touch-screen keyboard, even when you're not working hands-free. For anyone with thumbs the size of a human, at least.

Transcription rules

If you try to use voice dictation in real-time, it may feel as though it hasn't been as helpful as it first appears. It is far more practical to convert voice recordings into editable text. Photo Credit: rev Voice dictation and transcription use essentially the same technology, with the exception that with transcription the software has more time to get it correctly, has the context of the entire recording to work with, and cannot be interrupted for editing. You can jot down your thoughts over time using a voice recorder, a recording app on your phone, or even a smart watch. Next, you can enter the entire audio file into your transcription program. After that, editing the finished product is required, which is much quicker than the stop-and-start process of dictation. Hence, while live dictation may not be the greatest way to take use of voice recognition technology, you should still use it.