Star Trek - Just talk and the computer does the rest.

I love my Google Home and Amazon Echo, all I do is ask and they deliver.

I am also impressed with how well my mobile can translate my voice into text messages so I don't have to type.

Take these two amazing ideas and wrap them together to get Voice Typing in Google Docs. All you need to do is talk and the computer converts what you say into actual editable text.

I know... it isn't perfect. As I use my old school keyboard to create these words I am making a number of mistakes, nothing is 100% perfect. When I write on paper that process isn't 100% perfect either.

If I used paper, keyboard or voice they are not perfect but they are good enough to get ideas down so we can then edit them.

Getting Started

Open Google Docs.

1. Click Tools.

2. Click Voice typing...

Click to speak to get started.

Note: You may get a popup asking to allow Chrome to use the microphone, you must allow this for voice typing to work.

As I talk the red microphone emits a pulsating circle.

No circle? Most likely the microphone isn't on.

Voice typing isn't perfect but it is good enough. I was reading off a paper to create the above text. I know there are a few errors just like I get when I write or type. I now need to go back and start editing.

Next Steps

In the above sample I used the Enter key to create a new paragraph. Next time I will use the following voice commands. Check out the link below for all the voice commands you can use.

New Paragraph - creates a new paragraph
Comma - inserts a comma
Period - inserts a period

Resources

Type with your voice - check out the official Google support page. This is where you will find additional voice commands.

Who is emailing me? The Blue Man Group??? (Add an image to your Google account.)

WHY It is always nice to put a face with a name. Sometimes we need a tiny little reminder of what someone looks like because we don't see them very often. Follow these steps to add/change the image associated with your Google account. HOW Open your email. Click your image. It might just be a blue circle if you have not added something already. Click Change . Find an image you like. Your amazing new image will appear. From now on everyone can put a name to a face!

Annotate PDF? How might I do that?

So I have a PDF and I need to edit it. Here is one method that works pretty well for me. Open Word. Click File . 1. Click Open . 2. Click Browse . 3. Find the PDF you want to annotate. 4. Click Open . Click OK when you see this box. Bam! Your PDF now opens in Word. Note: you maybe have to click Enable Editing at the top of the screen. Finished editing and want to turn it back into a PDF? Click File . 1. Click Save As . 2. Click This PC . 3. Pick a location. I usually save things to my desktop. 4. Click Save as type - and choose PDF. 5. Click Save .

Embed an audio clip into a Google Form!

Are you looking to embed an audio clip into a Google Form? Below you will find a list of things you will need ready and a video to walk you through the process. Needed: A single PowerPoint slide. Movie Maker. (Already on your computer.) A Google Form. Watch this video for the steps to follow.

Learning in the Lou

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