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

By Colin Davitt

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.


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