For disabled people unable to use a keyboard, voice dictation tools provide vital independence. Whether you’re composing emails, managing documents, or sending messages, accurate dictation apps are essential for seamless communication and interaction with technology. This review explores a diverse range of voice dictation tools, from built-in options like Apple Voice Control and Microsoft Voice Access to advanced solutions like Dragon Professional and innovative apps like Aqua Voice and Voiceitt. Here’s how they compare in 2024.
Apple voice dictation: built-in but basic
Siri Dictation
Apple’s Siri Dictation, included with iPhone, iPad, and Mac, is a lightweight option for short messages.The audio is processed on Apple’s servers to convert your spoken words into text. This requires an internet connection, as the processing is done remotely rather than on the device itself. It is easy to use but lacks advanced features such as error correction, formatting, and the ability to send emails or messages entirely by voice. You still need to rely on the keyboard for many tasks. Unfortunately, it doesn’t adapt to repeated errors, meaning proper nouns, uncommon names or phrases may frequently require manual corrections.
Voice Control
Voice Control is another one of Apple’s built-in voice dictation tools. It supports longer text, formatting, and voice navigation across Mac, iPhone, and iPad. This privacy-friendly option keeps data local on device but still struggles with business-grade dictating tasks due to fairly frequent recognition errors. Despite its shortcomings, Voice Control is free and continues to improve, as highlighted in recent updates.
While Voice Control holds tremendous potential as an accessibility tool, it doesn’t learn from user corrections. This limitation slows productivity and can lead to frustration for disabled people who rely on it daily. For Voice Control to reach its full potential, it needs a memory feature to adapt to user corrections, enhancing both accuracy and user experience.
Microsoft Voice Access: hands-free PC dictation and navigation
For Windows users, Microsoft’s Voice Access, introduced in Windows 11, enables users to dictate and control their PCs using voice commands. This feature allows for tasks such as opening applications, navigating the interface, and dictating text. Commands like “open Edge” or “scroll down” make hands-free computing accessible to a wide range of users.
Advantages:
• Comprehensive control over the operating system, including mouse navigation via a grid system and text dictation.
• Built-in and free for all Windows 11 users, requiring no additional installations.
• Support for multiple languages, including French, German, and Spanish, expanding its usability.
Disadvantages:
• A learning curve to master commands and navigation methods.
• Variable accuracy depending on environment, and doesn’t learn from corrections.
• Limited integration with some applications, which may restrict functionality.
In summary, Microsoft Voice Access offers a robust solution for hands-free PC control. However, its effectiveness relies on user familiarity and the environment in which it’s used.
Dragon Professional: the gold standard
Dragon Professional stands out as one of the most powerful voice dictation tools for business and professional use. It enables voice-driven tasks like email, document creation, editing, spreadsheet management, and web browsing.
Nuance claims Dragon can transcribe at a speed equivalent to 160 words per minute with 99% accuracy—even before training. Over time, the software learns and adapts to your voice and commonly used terms, further enhancing accuracy. In addition, you can import personalised vocabulary to tailor the experience to your needs.
Some disadvantages of Dragon include the lack of full text control by voice in certain text boxes and applications. Additionally, for some users, remembering all the special voice commands can be challenging, which may hinder productivity.
Running Dragon on a Mac
Although Dragon is no longer available for macOS, it can be used on a Mac via Parallels, a virtual machine software that runs Windows. This hybrid approach combines access to the Mac’s ecosystem with Dragon’s high-performance dictation in a Windows environment. However, this solution involves added costs:
• Dragon Professional software: £679.99
• Parallels subscription: £99 annually
• Windows licence: £119
Training: Dragon Professional Learning Hub
The Dragon Professional Learning Hub is an outstanding resource for users seeking to master Dragon. It offers a comprehensive library of videos that guide users through the software’s capabilities, making it easier to refine skills and unlock Dragon’s full potential.
Even as an experienced user, I found the Learning Hub to be a fantastic refresher, and I highly recommend it. Priced at £129.99, the resource is worth considering, with a free preview available for those interested.
You can access the Dragon Professional Learning Hub here.
Talk Type: accurate but subscription-based
Talk Type, a UK-based dictation application, supports real-time dictation in apps on macOS and Windows. It boasts high accuracy but lacks system navigation and extensive cursor control options, requiring users to rely on a keyboard for tasks such as sending emails. It is also cloud based so a stable internet connection is essential.
The TalkType Lite plan costs £20 per month (billed annually), while the Pro plan is £50 per month. Although not budget-friendly, its cross-platform compatibility could justify the cost for some users. Learn more at Talk Type.
UK users may be able to get funding through the NHS environmental control service or through the government’s Access to Work scheme.
Aqua Voice: impressive accuracy but limited integration
Aqua Voice is an intriguing voice recognition product, delivering impressive accuracy in dictation tasks. At times, its AI-driven capabilities, powered by natural language commands, feel almost magical and showcase the potential of modern speech recognition technology.
However, it lacks cursor control and navigation, making it unsuitable for those needing a fully hands-free experience.
Aqua Voice currently lacks a memory feature to learn from corrections, but this is expected to be introduced within the next month. At present, its subscription model and limited functionality make it more of a niche option than a comprehensive solution.
Currently, Aqua Voice does not support direct dictation into macOS applications, such as Mail and Messages. However, the company has recently released a beta macOS application, which is free to try. To activate dictation, users must press the function key on the keyboard—an action that may not be feasible for some. Additionally, Aqua Voice operates on a subscription model.
Voiceitt: empowering speech impairment communication
Voiceitt is an AI-driven speech recognition platform designed to assist people with speech impairments in communicating more effectively. By learning and interpreting unique speech patterns, it translates non-standard speech into clear, synthesised output, facilitating both face-to-face and digital voice interactions.
I have used Voiceitt to voice type emails and dictate longer documents via Google Chrome. The application is impressively accurate with my atypical speech when wearing a ventilator mask, and its training and setup process is straightforward. However, as with Aqua Voice and Talk Type, there is a lack of voice navigation and cursor control functionality so may not be the complete solution for those with severe disabilities who can’t use a keyboard.
External microphones: a game-changer
No matter which voice dictation tools you choose, a high-quality external microphone is essential for achieving the best accuracy. SpeechWare microphones are ideal for noisy environments, while the Blue Yeti is a great option for quieter settings.
For more details about the best external microphones in 2024, check out recent reviews.
Other noteworthy tools and innovations
•Google Project Relate: Free on Android phones, this app excels for users with atypical speech. It lacks cursor control and navigation but offers impressive accuracy after an extensive training set up. Learn more.
•Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses: The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses have emerged as an exciting tool for hands-free communication and accessibility. What makes them particularly valuable for dictation users is their ability to dictate and receive messages seamlessly in WhatsApp, Messenger, and your phone’s default messaging app. This feature allows users to stay connected and manage conversations without needing to pick up a phone.
These glasses are especially beneficial for disabled people who cannot use their hands for traditional devices. With frequent software updates, such as the recently released version 10.0, the glasses continue to expand their voice-driven functionality. They are becoming a compelling option for hands-free accessibility, particularly for quick, everyday messaging tasks. You can read my full review of the glasses here.
The future of voice technology: collaboration and optimism
The future of voice technology lies in integrating advanced AI-driven capabilities into built-in tools like Apple Voice Control and Microsoft Voice Access. Collaboration between major tech platforms and smaller developers could create a transformative ecosystem that combines accuracy, usability, and accessibility. With greater access to major platforms, innovative companies like Aqua Voice, Talk Type, and Voiceitt could bring life-changing advancements to a broader audience.
While current limitations remain, the rapid advancements in AI and machine learning offer hope for what’s to come. Tools like Aqua Voice demonstrate the potential of modern speech recognition, even if they fall short of being complete solutions today. As cooperation between major platforms and developers improves, we are likely to see a transformative shift in voice accessibility technology—bringing us closer to a future where voice tools are truly inclusive and empowering.
Choosing the right voice dictation tools for your needs
1. Apple Voice Control: Free and improving, Apple Voice Control excels at navigation by voice but falls short for long and complex dictation tasks.
2. Dragon Professional with Parallels: Best for maximum accuracy and business-grade needs if you are a Windows user. On a Mac you will need to use Parallels
3. Talk Type: Offers high accuracy for general use but comes with a subscription cost and lacks voice navigation and cursor control features.
4. Aqua Voice: Impressively accurate dictation but lacks cursor control and navigation; currently operates on a subscription model.
5. Voiceitt: Designed for people with speech impairments, offering personalised speech recognition but requiring initial training and a subscription.
6. External microphones: Essential for reducing errors in any dictation setup.
7. Training: A vital component for mastering dictation software; resources like the Dragon Professional Learning Hub make a significant difference in user success.
Voice dictation tools continue to evolve offering new possibilities for accessibility and productivity. From built-in tools like Apple Voice Control to advanced solutions like Dragon Professional and Voiceitt, the right choice depends on your unique needs. As technology improves and collaboration grows between major platforms and developers, we move closer to a future where voice dictation tools are truly transformative and inclusive.
