Tip #286 - Use Windows Voice Recognition and Dictation in SmartAdvocate

Occasionally, we get inquiries from users wanting to know if you can dictate directly into SmartAdvocate, i.e., dictate a note or email for example. The answer is YES! In fact, you can use the Windows Speech Recognition (WSR) function to do just that. (NOTE: Microsoft reports that on Windows 11 version 22H2 and later, WSR will be replaced by voice access starting in Sept. 2024. Older versions of Windows will continue to have WSR available).

First, you will need to set up a microphone and teach Windows to recognize your voice.

For Windows 10

1. Select the Start button, then select Settings  > Time & Language > Speech

2. Under Microphone, select the Get started button

Next, you will need to train your computer to recognize your voice in Windows 10.

Here's how to set it up:

1. In the search box on the taskbar, type Windows Speech Recognition, and then select Windows Speech Recognition in the list of results

2. If you don't see a dialog box that says "Welcome to Speech Recognition Voice Training," then in the search box on the taskbar, type Control Panel, and select Control Panel in the list of results. Then select Ease of Access > Speech Recognition > Train your computer to understand you better

3. Follow the instructions to set up speech recognition

For Windows 11

1. Select (Start) >  Settings > Time & language > Speech

2. Under Microphone, select the Get started button

3. The Speech wizard window opens, and the setup starts automatically. If the wizard detects issues with your microphone, they will be listed in the wizard dialog box. You can select options in the dialog box to specify an issue and help the wizard solve it.

Train your computer to recognize your voice in Windows 11. Here's how:

1. Press Windows logo key+Ctrl+S. The Set up Speech Recognition wizard window opens with an introduction on the Welcome to Speech Recognition page
   
   

Tip: If you've already set up speech recognition, pressing Windows logo key+Ctrl+S opens speech recognition and you're ready to use it. If you want to retrain your computer to recognize your voice, press the Windows logo key, type Control Panel, and select Control Panel in the list of results. In Control Panel, select Ease of Access > Speech Recognition > Train your computer to better understand you.

2. Select Next. Follow the instructions on your screen to set up speech recognition. The wizard will guide you through the setup steps.

3. After the setup is complete, you can choose to take a tutorial to learn more about speech recognition. To take the tutorial, select Start Tutorial in the wizard window. To skip the tutorial, select Skip Tutorial. You can now start using speech recognition.

Now that you have your microphone installed and working, and you have trained your PC to recognize your voice, you are now ready to use the dictation function in SmartAdvocate. Although the feature is primarily used to dictate notes, emails and the like, you will be able to use dictation in any field in the case where you would normally type using a keyboard.

Simply navigate to the desired field or text box then press the Windows Logo Key + H key, and the speech recognition function will be activated. For most systems, you will hear a brief alert and a microphone icon will appear at the top of the screen. Make sure your cursor is in the desired filed before you begin dictating.