While android is a most popular mobile platform gives us a lot of voice commands to use with our phones. But sometime we have to write down something for future reference.
In this article, I’ll share some ways you can convert speech into text through android. I hope this post will give you idea to use text easily with your android phones.
Gboard
Best for Android phone users to dictate speech, glide typing, and handwriting.
Gboard is an easy-to-use keyboard application for android users. The android app allows you to do a lot of things such as dictate text, swipe-style input, and emoji search when chatting.
Features:
- Voice typing
- Emoji and GIFs search
- Multilingual support
- Gesture cursor control
Verdict: Gboard is a simple and easy-to-use dictation software for Android phone users. The smartphone dictation app is an alternative to keyboard input. However, the shortcoming of the dictation software is that the customization and dictation features are limited.
Price: Free.
Website: Gboard
Speech Texter (Web Chrome, Android)
Speech Texter is a free speech-to-text conversion software that specifically works on Chrome browser or with Android. While the app’s privacy policy does mention that it doesn’t store any of the text, the text may be processed by Google’s server (since you will be doing it online through Chrome browser or Android app). So, one should keep that in mind.
The application offers easy transcription of speech, with great accuracy. The platform does allow live transcription, where you can click start and begin talking. Once the transcription is done, the text is shown in the main window with the “Result Confidence Wheel”, showing the estimated percent of accurately transcribed words.
Simon
Simon is a technologically advanced and highly flexible speech recognition software, available for Windows and Linux free of cost. The software offers high-level customization for all applications, thus can be used with all systems wherever speech recognition is required. What’s even better is that Simon isn’t bounded by any language, and can work with high accuracy with all major dialects. The software essentially brings in the automation to replace the mouse and keyboard.
The technology behind Simon includes KDE libraries, along with HTK, and CMU SPHINX. The software is available open-source and free of cost for Windows and Linux operating systems. Apart from being a speech recognition software, Simon also allows controlling computers through voice commands. The software is equally suited for disabled people. The strong architecture behind Simon means it can easily be used with all languages and dialects. Simon can be used to control various software and applications including media centers, emails, web browsers, etc.
Tazti
Best for Gamers to control games and users to control the operating system.
Tazti is one of the best dictation software that is packed with features. The software has built-in speech commands. You can also add up to 300 commands to control the operating system and games.
Features:
- Control games with voice
- Navigate websites and files
- Over 25 built-in speech commands
- Add up to 300 speech commands
- Compatible with Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and 10.
Verdict: Tazti has an uncomplicated and easy user interface. It offers great value for money due to excellent features at a relatively lower price than top-of-the-line competitors.
Price: $80.
Website: Tazti
ListNote (Android)
ListNote is a popular speech recognition app. Voice dictation and notepad functionality are combined, using your phone’s built-in Google Voice Search to turn voice to text while recording the audio simultaneously. Each recording is saved as a searchable note that you can later organise with colour coding. You can then share the notes using email, text and to any other supported app you have installed. There are features such as ‘time to breathe’, which allows you to choose how long to wait before you stop speech input. Encryption options are also available. Price: free.
Dragon by Nuance (Android, iOS, macOS, Windows)
You can do most of the job with this app without putting your fingers on a keyboard. It uses Deep Learning technology that adapts to your specific voice, jargon and work environment, in order to create accurate documents. With this app, you can do hands-free work without leaving your favourite programs. Price: £349.99.
Gboard (Android, iOS)
Google’s keyboard offering has been continually improved since it was released in 2016. Gboard allows you to dictate by pressing and holding the spacebar. It will transcribe everything you say in real time with no time limit, but you do need a connection to the internet. It is fast but the downside is that it will cut you off if you take too long of a pause, which forces the speaker to rush through text. However, its versatility across iOS and Android, and the fact that it’s free, makes it worth considering. Price: free.
Google Docs Voice Typing (Web)
Many people are now opting to use Google Docs as an alternative to other word processors due to its ease of use and sharing capabilities. It also lets you type with your voice on Google Docs, making this a great option if you’re on a budget. Google Docs also allows you to use more than 100 voice commands to edit and format your document. Price: free.
Windows 10 Speech Recognition (Windows)
If you’re a Windows user and don’t want to have to download or buy any additional software to dictate, Windows also has built-in dictation software. You are able to use this to dictate and control text on any browser, program or web application. Again, this is great if you don’t want to shell out any money on this, and it’s incredibly convenient for Windows users. Price: free.
Apple Dictation (iOS, macOS)
Similarly, if you’re an Apple user, Apple Dictation can be found on both iOS and macOS so there’s no need to download any additional apps. Apple Dictation uses Siri’s servers to dictate up to 30 seconds of speech at a time if you are connected to the internet. This isn’t ideal for longer form content but it’s enough to conveniently getting your thoughts down on paper. Price: free.
Verbatim Transcripts
Are transcription services better for you?
Dictation software can be great if you want to get every word, pause, and filler sound in your notes. However, this can also lead to messy dictation that takes a while to edit and clean up. Using transcription services means that you don’t have to go back through your transcripts and tidy them up afterwards.
Be sure not to use a transcription service that is on the cheaper side, as this service is most likely using automated speech recognition (ASR) software, which is what dictation software uses. It is not as accurate as using a human-based transcription service and it is likely you will still have to review whatever you are given back.
A verbatim transcript is the industry standard within transcription, as is also known as ‘intelligent verbatim’, ‘clean verbatim’ and ‘word-for-word transcript’. Every line that’s recorded is transcribed but filler words, pauses, ‘ums’ and ‘ahs’ are all removed. This makes it easy to read while still providing everything that was said. This is most likely the best option if you’re looking for a transcript to record your dictations, such as your thoughts and ideas, in a clear and easy-to-read way.
Human transcription services can provide you with an edited and accurate transcript that will save you time and effort. To ensure you get quick, high-quality transcripts from transcription services, using a dictaphone voice recorder to make your recording will help. This will help you get the exact kind of transcription you want. Make sure you know what you’re getting though, as there are several different types to choose from
Voice Finger
Winscribe Speech Recognition Suite
The Winscribe Speech Recognition Suite is a part of their overall digital work-flow management system. It is highly rated by respected reviewers and it enjoys a solid share of the growing voice-to-text software market. Here is what you need to know:
Client and server-side options – It is your choice: using the client-side server means that your voice is converted into text as you speak. On the other hand, the server-side server records your dictation, converts it into a sound file, and sends it to a server. The server will compare the voice file with a profile and converts the sound to text.
User cases – The voice-to-text software can be used in any application that requires the typing of text. Of interest is that you can place the text cursor anywhere inside a document and then dictate additional text. In addition, it also supports bar-code and QR scanning. You can even attach photos and maps to your dictated document.
Reporting – The reporting features allow you to measure your productivity and analyze how you use the dictation software. The versatility of Winscribe is appealing to those who want to choose whether they want their documents to be created as they dictate them or to have them transcribed at a later stage.
Systems: Android, Blackberry, Windows, iOS
Price: n.a. | Rating: ★★★★☆ | Website: Winscribe
Best for people with disabilities to control operating system with voice.
Voice Finger contains many features that are present in more expensive voice recognition solutions. The application allows zero contact control of your operating system. You can use voice commands to control mouse, keyboard, and even games.
Features:
- Control mouse and keyboard
- Supports Windows speech recognition commands
- Zero computer contact
- Hit Keys and buttons in games
- Compatible with Windows 7, 8, and 8.1.
Verdict: While the speech recognition accuracy may not be as accurate as of the top of line dictation software, it is an affordable solution that will meet the needs of most users.
Price: Full-version is available at $9.99. You can also download limited version software for free to test the functionality of the software.
Website: Voice Finger
Dragon Professional Individual
Best dictation software overall
TODAY’S BEST DEALSUS$500VIEW AT NUANCE£439.99View at Nuance
REASONS TO BUY
+Industry-specific products+Advanced integration of artificial intelligence and deep learning+Lifetime subscriptions so no recurring costs +Best-in-class accuracy
REASONS TO AVOID
-Expensive-Mobile software bought separately
Dragon Professional Individual dictation software is widely recognized as the best in the business. Dragon products are reliable, easy to use, and among the most accurate available.
Having used Dragon dictation software on our laptop, we can attest to its best-in-class performance. In a 300 word test, the software got 299 words correct.
Like most advanced dictation software platforms, Dragon software leverages deep learning technology and artificial neural networks. These technologies enable Dragon to adjust its transcription based on several factors, such as the amount of ambient noise, the speaker’s accent, and even the tone with which they speak.
For businesses, several Dragon dictation products may be suitable. This is because Dragon has gone beyond merely offering one software package for all purposes, and has created dictation software custom-designed for specific industries. The most popular are Dragon Legal, Dragon Medical One, and Dragon Law Enforcement.
The biggest downside of Dragon dictation software is the substantial cost for a license.
Conclusion
Whether you are a student who needs to take notes in class or a professional who keeps an audio recording of their meetings, speech to text apps are the ultimate companion. These handy apps allow you to effortlessly record audio files and convert them into documents.