Active Voice : Speech-To-Text
By Ashley Kemper,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
No-frills dictation requires practice and patience to use.
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Active Voice : Speech-To-Text
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What’s It About?
Kids open ACTIVE VOICE : SPEECH-TO-TEXT to a language and settings menu each time they open the app. By clicking on the microphone in the center of the screen, users see a blank text box and a share button. As they talk, the software captures their speech as text and types into the text box. Kids can edit as they go by speaking changes, highlighting text, and deleting or inserting. Text can be sent via other social apps installed on the device (WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter), via email or text, or via clipboard copy to move to other text tools or a web browser.
Is It Any Good?
For use on a social app where perfect grammar and mechanics are not required, this would be a great app, but it doesn't work well in all scenarios. Because Active Voice : Speech-To-Text isn't content-specific, when users are trying to create text for science or social studies, many proper names or vocabulary words are garbled. The software also works best in smaller chunks: Kids should type one paragraph or less before sharing it or copying it into a better browser. Multiple paragraphs get confusing within the app and may frustrate some kids. Overall, it's a solid tool that may help some kids, but it has enough flaws to frustrate others.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about different audiences when using Active Voice : Speech-To-Text. For instance, how kids speak or write for their friends should look completely different from a formal essay they're writing for class. Show kids real-world examples: How does a journalist create a feeling of formality that an advertisement for face cream does not? Why is this important?
Help kids process their thoughts for longer writing assignments by scripting key points in a list or an outline. By helping kids identify things they should talk about, they may spend less time not knowing what to say. It's also helpful for some kids to take breaks if necessary and come back to writing (or dictating) without losing their spot.
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
- Subjects: Language & Reading: writing, writing clearly
- Skills: Self-Direction: academic development, working efficiently, Communication: conveying messages effectively, Collaboration: cooperation
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Release date: January 16, 2017
- Category: Education
- Publisher: Tensift
- Version: 1.6.6
- Minimum software requirements: 8.0
- Last updated: November 3, 2021
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