Voice dictation refers to speech-to-text technologies which allow entering text into a computer or other smart device without typing. Its use requires relatively clear speech to work well.
Voice dictation is very useful for ALS patients that are able to use a computer or a smart phone, but have difficulty entering large amounts of text.
Voice dictation software is not particularly good at interpreting terms which are specialized in nature, such as medical or engineering terms. Such terms may need to be spelled out.
Homophones are words that sound the same when spoken but have different meanings, and often different spellings.
Voice dictation software may interpret spoken words differently than the speaker intends. It may occasionally be necessary to mispronounce words in some cases, to trick the voice dictation software into detecting the correct word.
Many letters in the English alphabet sound like words. This can complicate the use of voice dictation software.
| Letter | Word Sound |
|---|---|
| A | A (indefinite article) |
| B | Be (to exist) / Bee (the insect) |
| C | See (to look) / Sea (the ocean) |
| D | Dee (slang or shortened name) |
| G | Gee (expression of surprise) |
| I | I (pronoun) / Eye (the organ for seeing) |
| J | Jay (bird or name) |
| K | Kay (short form of Katherine) |
| O | Oh (expression of surprise or understanding) |
| P | Pea (vegetable) / Pee (slang for urinate) |
| Q | Cue (a signal or prompt) |
| R | Are (verb) / Arr (pirate slang) |
| S | Yes |
| T | Tea (drink) / Tee (used in golf) |
| U | You (second person pronoun) |
| X | Ex (a former partner) |
| Y | Why (question word) |
Punctuation is often stated by naming the punctuation mark itself. This creates ambiguity when trying to state a word which coincides with the name of a punctuation mark. Voice dictation software attempts to distinguish the intent by measuring the intonation and speed of the speech.
| Desired Text | Speech Required Using macOS Dictation |
|---|---|
| Hello, it is nice to see you today. | “hello COMMA it is nice to see you today PERIOD” |
| The comma and period are common punctuation marks. | “the comma and period are common punctuation marks PERIOD.” |
Voice dictation may accept other commands, such as a command to begin a new line or new paragraph.
| Desired Text | Speech Required Using macOS Dictation |
|---|---|
| Hello, Thank you for your email. |
“hello COMMA NEW PARAGRAPH thank you for your email PERIOD” |