Talk To Type

~ beetleypete

I know some bloggers who use speech-to-text software. They can talk into a microphone connected to their computer, and it translates their words into text on the screen. It often makes some very amusing assumptions about what they might have said, so probably requires careful proof-reading.

I don’t have anything like that. I am not sure it could cope with my London accent, or the colloquialisms I would use when speaking. I type on a conventional keyboard instead, and I don’t have to think too hard when it comes down to correcting typos, or using words that are not the slang I actually hear in my head as I write.

It is just as well that I don’t rely on those innovative programmes, as this morning I have woken up with little or no voice. My throat has closed up, and I sound as if I am using the voice of a dark entity that is possessing me, if I even bother to try to speak at all. It seems that I was wrong, when I posted the other day about exaggerating a heavy cold.

Whatever it is I have got at the moment, it is certainly much nastier than a cold, and getting progressively worse with each hour that passes.

66 thoughts on “Talk To Type”

    1. I don’t do the TTS myself, but lots of people do use one of the programmes available.
      I’m still affected by whatever this virus is, but nothing to do except wait for the recovery. 🙂
      Thanks, honey.
      Best wishes, Pete. xx

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  8. Sounds very much like what I had. I also lost my voice though the feeling of swallowing razor blades disappeared. This was followed by the blocked and runny nose, then the cough. I had one day where I felt dreadful, but the rest was manageable even if exhausting. I’d be getting Julie to walk Ollie some days for you – you need to rest not be out in the rain.

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    1. Julie has still got much the same thing, though is on her way to recovery after two weeks of it. And she is back at work tomorrow. I can manage Ollie’s walk, but I confess I have been going back to bed once we get home. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete. x

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  9. I hope you will get well soon, too. Ginger tea is good against illness of the throat. Beware of Ollie! With your changed voice he might think you are a burglar. ***lol*** Using this speech-to-write software is very problematic to me. Dictating into the PC i often falling back into our very special dialect. The software doesnt like this. 😉 Michael

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    1. Thanks very much, Kim. I think we should reject such ‘devices’. I am convinced that they just record our thoughts for ‘marketing purposes’!
      Sadly, i cannot stand the taste of Camomile, but I do have some honey. (I also have some South African red wine. That makes me forget about being ill. 🙂 )
      I know it’s naughty, but I am past caring.
      Best wishes, Pete. x

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  12. I’ve tried that for my blogging, because I’m such a slow typist, and also as a quick way to keep notes while travelling, but discarded the idea. Not because the mistakes the voice recognition system makes – that can be trained, I believe. I discarded it because I can’t talk to a lifeless machine. It feels so strange.

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    1. I took Ollie out, to get some ‘fresh air’. Once I got back, I had to go to bed, and stayed there for over three hours! I am getting seriously old.
      Thanks, John.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  14. My car has a voice activated thingy that connects to my phone. I have asked it to ring Phil on a couple of occasions and so far been put through to a chinese take away in Folkestone, and Phil’s daughter Shelly. I’ve given up. 🙂 Hope you feel better soon.

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    1. We say that too. Or in this instance ‘Darth Vader in my throat’. I will drink some extra tea, though that might change to an Italian Red wine this evening. That should knock me out nicely! 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete. x

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  17. I know, Pete, anything to get out of carol singing.

    I don’t know why I don’t get one of those voice to text apps for my phone. I sometimes get ideas for writing when I’m out walking but wouldn’t like to record my own voice and have to listen to it afterwards. Straight to text might be a solution.

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    1. The whole thing still feels too ‘modern’ for me, BF. I used to carry a notebook and pen for ideas, but when I could no longer see to write without glasses, I began to just rely on memory instead. Once that goes, my blog posts will be notable for their absence. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

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    1. I actually enjoy hitting the keys, chuq. I still miss having a ‘conventional’ typewriter, and I wish someone would invent a modern keyboard for computer use that looks just like the old carriage machines. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

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      1. Thank you. What I am going to do then is to place my prayer into a special place on my computer where I can see it every day as I pray for the people I love and I am going to ask God to intervene and to bring comfort and relief from what you have described and I am going to become very stubborn in believing that Jesus Christ will send His Holy Spirit to ease things significantly for you. Why? Because I care!

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  24. I never use “speech to text” but it’s available on my Google home page (just click on the microphone icon), and I’ve tested it on a few occasions with different words and phrases. It works okay with my voice and accent. I just prefer to type.

    I wish I could send you some warm Nevada sun and clean desert mountain air. I hope you’re able to conquer whatever it is that afflicts you.

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  25. So sorry to hear that. I hope you get better soon. It’s that time of the year, although I had a period when I’d lose my voice in the summer, probably to do with air conditioning and sudden changes of temperature. I did try speech-to-text, but although you can do things to train the software (including giving it access to your e-mails and documents so it gets used to the kind of expressions you use) it didn’t work very well for me, probably because of my foreign accent. Funnily enough, it was always better at understanding the complicated words. The software has improved since and I do wonder about it sometimes because I spend so many hours at the computer that my neck suffers… Who knows… Get better soon.

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    1. Thanks, Olga. I have always thought that I might feel self-conscious when talking to a computer.
      I may have to try it one day, if my fingers or eyes get any worse. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

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