iPhone/iPad VoiceOver: Dictation

Hello, my name is Douglas Walker. Today, we will be checking out our dictation feature. And dictation is a super cool, hands-free way of writing. And dictation means that our device is going to turn what we're speaking into written text.

Now, we can use dictation in just about any text area that we encounter, and I tell ya, really can help to speed up our text input. Okay, we can also add our punctuation as we dictate. And we will demonstrate how to add our punctuation as we dictate in just a bit. So how about we jump right in and start dictating? Now, we mentioned that we are able to dictate pretty much anywhere that we have text field. And one of the places that I use dictation most is while I'm using my Notes app.

And our Notes app just so happens to be open. And we are right in a new note. Now, there are a couple of ways that we can begin dictation. One is by double tapping our dictate button here in the bottom right-hand corner of our screen. However, Apple has given us an even faster way to start our dictation without having to go searching for our dictate button because when we are in any text field, all we have to do to start our dictation is to just simply two finger double tap. And when we finish dictating, we will just perform another two-finger double tap to stop. And I tell ya, it is as easy as that. So let's do it.

Let's go ahead and dictate here. All right, how about we start simple and look at writing a simple grocery list here? So when we begin our dictation with our two-finger double tap, of course, we will hear a tone to let us know that dictation has started. We will then give her another title here by saying, grocery list. And then saying the words, new line, will be like pressing our return key. So we just say, new line, after placing each of our items in our grocery list. And then remember, we perform our same two-finger double tap to stop our dictation. All right, so let's do it. We will two-finger double tap here and start our grocery list. Grocery list, new line, milk, new line, cheese, new line, bread, new line.

VoiceOver: Inserted grocery list, milk, cheese, bread.

Douglas: Great, and we just, of course, two-finger double tap again to end or stop our dictation. And as we heard, VoiceOver read aloud everything that was turned into text for us. And, hey, how great is that? Yeah, and it gets even better because we're able to add text to our text field by simply just performing another two-finger double tap. So how about we do just that? Only this time, we are going to add some punctuation. Now, we are currently in our grocery list. And we could add some more grocery items here if we like. However, how about we pretend that we are in our email app and that we're writing an email message.

Now, remember, it's a good idea to kind of know what we're going to say. And we also need to remember that we'll be speaking all of our punctuation. So, hey, let's do it. We will perform our two-finger double tap here. Hi, Kim, comma, new line. I hope that all is great with you today, period. How is the weather there, question mark? Let me know when you would like to get together again, period, new line. Take care, comma, new line, Douglas.

VoiceOver: Inserted, Hi, Kim. I hope that all is great with you today. How's the weather there? Let me know when you would like to get together again. Take care, Douglas.

Douglas: All right, and of course, we performed our two-finger double tap again to stop our dictation. Yeah, and again, all of our text here was read aloud. All right, and there you go. Dictating all of our punctuation really does feel a bit strange. And I'll admit, it does take a bit of practice to get used to. But I tell ya, it really can help big time to speed up all of our text input. Again, my name is Douglas Walker. Take care, and I'll see you next time.