We recently had a gift of an Amazon Alexa; my girlfriend loves technology and has just recently updated her home with the newest Alexa, Hive and all manner of things that I'm still working toward understanding - she had a spare Alexa Dot and brought it over the last time she was here.
This got me thinking ... with voice recognition getting clever, would it be possible to 'write' a post without any specialist software? I didn't even check to see if there was a dictation app for my phone, just using the 'Notes' app - I have an iPhone 6S+.
I decided to do a little experiment.
I'm writing the first part of the post in the conventional manner - I have a funky wireless keyboard (hey, I spend a LOT of time writing) connected to my computer, I can touch type with relative ease, I've no idea what my WPM count is though - although given that I spend my life attached to the keyboard, I'm not slow.
The second part will be me reading this back to my phone, which I'll then have to send as an email attachment to my Outlook inbox, for a simple copy & paste to this post.
Sounds simple right?
I don't think it's worth timing the whole process, because I'm spending a little time thinking about what I'm writing, whereas once I've done the first part, it's pure dictation.
One other thing worth mentioning is that I'm pretty self-conscious, babbling away to myself in the privacy of my own office is one thing, but if there were others here ... that pretty much guarantees a "not happening" situation.
I've just about mastered the whole voice recognition thing - saying "new line" twice will start a new paragraph, "stop" gives me a full-stop (or if you're across the pond, a period), it will also recognise "comma" and "question mark".
Sure, there's bound to be some formatting still, but that's minutes rather than hours, but I am wondering if I was to do this in a real environment, thinking about what I wanted to say as I went, would it still work? Or would I be writing a 'script' for me to read out?
iPhone Notes App
We recently had a gift on Amazon Alexa; my girlfriend loves technology and has just recently updated her home with the newest Alexa, how are you and all manner of things that I’m still working towards understanding she had a spare Alexa.and water over the last time she was here.
This got me thinking… With voice recognition getting clever, would it be possible to write a post without any specialist software? I didn’t even check to see if there was a dictation app for my phone just using the Notes app I have an iPhone 6s Plus.
I decided to do a little experiment.
I’m not in the first part of the post in the conventional manner-I have a funky wireless keyboard bracket hey I spend a lot of time writing bracket connected to my computer, I can touch type with relative ease, I’ve no idea what my WPM count is though-although given that I spend my life attached to the keyboard, I’m not slow stop
The second part will be me reading this back to my phone, which I then have to send as an email attachment to my outlook inbox, for a simple copy and paste to this post.
Sounds simple right?
I don’t think it’s worth typing the whole process, because I’m spending a little time thinking about what I’m writing, where as once I’ve done the first part, it’s pure dictation. One of the thing worth mentioning is that I’m pretty self-conscious, babbling away to myself in the privacy of my own office is one for you, but if there were others here… That pretty much guarantees a not happening situation.
I’m just about mastered the whole voice recognition thing-saying Twice will start a new paragraph. Give me a. Or if you’re across the pond period, it will also recognise, and?.
Sure, there’s bound to be some formatting still but that’s minutes rather than ours,But I am wondering if I was to do this in a real environment thinking about what I want to say is I won’t, would it still work? Or would I be writing a script for me to read out?
The Verdict
As you can see, it's changed a few words, missed some grammar, and completely misunderstood some bits. Not great.
I need to look into whether it can learn, or whether this is it.
Part Two coming soon!