Google is working on several things that I believe can have significant impact in the lives of a blind and/or visually impaired individual. Does that mean I think everyone should run out and get an Android device? Uh… No, not yet, at any rate. Android isn’t for everyone, in spite of the claims from Google. That being said, there are some amazing tools that can help.
A while back, I posted an article on Lookout. This is a fantastic app that can greatly help someone read and ID things around them. Today I’ll be showing you an app by Google called Recorder. This app allows you to record audio, then turn that audio directly into searchable, transcribed text. Now don’t you wish you’d had such a handy app when you were in school? Currently, this app is available for Android devices. Before I go any further, here is the description from Google:
“Recorder brings the power of search to audio recording. Meetings, lectures, band practices, family memories, anything you want to save and listen to later. Recorder automatically transcribes and labels what you record so you can easily find the parts that matter to you.”
Using Google Recorder
Once you download Google Recorder and allow the app to use the microphone, and also optionally location services so that it knows where you made a recording, you can begin.
To start recording, just find the Record button toward the bottom center of the screen. Google Recorder will begin recording, and if you have vision, you will notice a transcription begin. If you use TalkBack, you can also locate this transcription, but it will interfere with the recording unless you either pause the recording first, or use headphones.
Once you stop recording, you can go into More Options. From this area, you have the ability to see the transcription, search for text, share a recording to various places, and of course delete a recording.
Speaker labels
Google has added the ability to identify and label different speakers in a recording. This can be helpful in meetings or interviews where multiple people are talking, making it easier to follow who said what in the transcript.
FAQ
Is Google Recorder free?
Yes. It is free to download and use.
Does the transcription happen in real time?
Yes. The transcription appears as you record. You can also search through it afterward.
Can I share both the audio and the transcript?
Yes. When you share a recording, you can send both the audio file and the text transcript.
Does it work offline?
Basic recording works offline. Transcription quality is best with an internet connection, but on-device transcription is available on supported Pixel devices.
Can TalkBack users access the transcription?
Yes, but if you are using TalkBack without headphones, the screen reader’s voice may interfere with the recording. Use headphones for best results.
Final remarks
I have been playing with the Recorder app for a bit now. I find it very interesting that Google can detect things like laughter and clapping. I find that having the audio and text transcription together really helps me locate items of interest later. This is because each phrase that is transcribed has a time index, so if something isn’t clear via the text transcripts, you can jump to that same time in the audio file. I also find this app to be handy for taking down short bits of info such as a phone number. The app may have difficulty transcribing challenging items such as foreign names or email addresses, but that’s what the audio is for.
I hope anyone else out there using an Android phone will find this app as useful as I have.
Qapla!
Great! I didn’t know this. Thanks