{"id":3979,"date":"2016-04-26T09:30:39","date_gmt":"2016-04-26T08:30:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/?p=3979"},"modified":"2016-06-10T17:00:28","modified_gmt":"2016-06-10T16:00:28","slug":"speaking-documents-google-voice-typing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/2016\/04\/26\/speaking-documents-google-voice-typing\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Speak’ your documents with Google Voice Typing"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Google

Talk instead of type your documents!\u00a0by psd <\/a>shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license<\/p><\/div>\n

Today we are introducing Google Voice typing<\/a>, a feature of Google documents which allows you to dictate and format your documents by voice.<\/p>\n

Voice typing is an effective free tool. I<\/span>t could prove useful\u00a0to\u00a0anyone wanting an alternative to typing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

First, what are Google docs?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Google documents are one of a range of free tools offered by Google housed in Google drive. <\/span><\/p>\n

The docs, slides and sheets (word processor doc, presentation slides and spreadsheet) are stored in a Google drive, they are online (cloud-based) and they \u2018sync\u2019 (all catch up with each other). <\/span>You can access your Google Drive contents from any device and you don\u2019t need to press save – they constantly update.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can return to earlier versions too. Google docs share many features of Microsoft Office 365<\/a> which is available at Sussex which also has a voice dictation feature.<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Within Google docs you can use the Google Voice Typing tool feature.\u00a0<\/span>To take a look at Google documents, register with Google for free <\/span>here.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

A demo of Google Voice typing <\/b><\/h3>\n

Below is a 30 second video demonstration of Google docs in action. You will hear me talking about how Smart boards work. You\u2019ll see that the Google voice tool captures accurately what I am saying and it also responds well to my voice commands for \u2018new line\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>

30 second video clip via YouTube. Click to view<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n

How to activate the Voice Typing Tool<\/b><\/h3>\n

You can activate the Google Voice Typing Tool easily within a\u00a0Google Document.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Simply go to <\/span>tools<\/b> and then <\/span>voice typing. <\/b>A microphone will appear with an invite to \u2018click to speak\u2019. Click on it and away you go! The microphone will turn red to show that it is activated and ready for you to speak. The only equipment required in addition to your computer\/device, Wi-Fi access and Google document is a headset with microphone. These are easily available online, the cheapest headset we found was a snip at just \u00a32.50. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With your voice you can control the formatting of a document as well as the actual content, thanks to Google\u2019s voice recognition and speech-to-text features. Here are some common, easy (fun, even!) voice commands you can use to control your document:<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Google

by Darwin Bell <\/a>shared under a Creative Commons (BY-NC) license<\/p><\/div>\n

Just say, and it will be so!<\/span><\/p>\n