Text to speech

[forestofglory]

Yesterday I asked a friend to hold my hand virtually while I set up text to speech on my phone. Four the last week or so my left hand has been hurting as well as my right hand and making things harder for me.

So I wanted to try more hands-free things. So far using text to speech feels kind of strange. I don't really talk the way I write. It's also a little bit odd not having to think so much about spelling. Yesterday I wanted to talk about vampireism, normally I would have to think pretty hard to spell that. But text to speech just knows how it spelled.

The other thing I'm trying at the moment is that I've taped a stylus the back of my hand so that I can use it to turn pages on my e-reader and push buttons on my phone using mostly my elbow instead of my wrist. It worked well for reading last night and I used it with my phone this morning. I think it's going to take a little practice to figure out exactly the best angle to tape it at. But I'm pleased that I thought of this.

I'm not enjoying having my hands hurt but at least I'm figuring out some workarounds.

Comments

[hrj]

I've done a bunch of experiments with speech-to-text for my blog. Either to turn my telegraphic notes into a full text, or sometimes by dictating my reading notes directly. My conclusion? It's an entirely different skill than composing in writing. As you note, we don't really talk the same way we write. So I think my dictated text has an entirely different style and flavor.

When I've tried experiments in dictating for my fiction, it ends up being like a really really rough first draft--one I rarely like at all until I've done a full editing pass. (So: more for jotting down ideas than for composing, as such.)

[forestofglory]

Yeah, I think that anything long form I want to write will need a strong editing pass. But text to speech is helpful for short comments and chatting with people online.

[torachan]

I wish more reading apps allowed you to choose how you want to go from page to page. I prefer tapping to swiping, and because I more often have pain in my right hand and arm than left, I usually prefer to hold the device in my left hand and tap on the left side of the screen to turn pages. I have one comic app that allows you to set it so tapping either side goes forward, and if I read manga downloaded from Amazon Japan, then tapping the left side goes forward because that's the direction you read in Japanese. But for the US Kindle app and iBooks there's no option to set where to tap. And even worse are apps like Hoopla or the English Shonen Jump app, that make you swipe. I hate swiping! It is so much work for my hands and much fiddlier.

I just wish app makers would allow people to set preferences. It really is an accessibility issue but not one that anyone seems to care about.

[forestofglory]

You make a good point. I usually prop my e-reader up with a pillow so I don't have to hold it, but I still wish I could pick which side to tap to turn the pages. I often prefer to tap with my left hand but I have to tap the right side of the device and it's not very comfortable.

[goodbyebird]

I'm sorry about the hand pain, but you seem to be finding some solid work arounds!

[peachpai]

I've considered using text to speech before in certain situations, but you're right about it being a wholly different thought process than writing on a computer or on paper. Good luck, I hope it becomes a good tool for you!

[forestofglory]

Thank you!

[clevermanka]

I've been thinking a lot about trying speech to text again, too (wrist issues again, too). You've probably said before, but (if it's not to much hassle) remind me what software you're using?

[forestofglory]

I'm sorry you're having wrist issues too.

I am just using the built in text to speech on my Android phone. It seemed a lot easier than setting something up on my desktop.

[clevermanka]

Handily, I have an Android phone as well! Thanks!

[lunabee34]

I'm glad you're figuring out some solutions.