Instead of typing emails or messages, they can be spoken with the help of dictation apps or speech recognition software and then be converted into text. This so-called speech-to-text technology (STT) can save time and make it easier to communicate using digital media.

Many speech recognition applications already provide text output of natural language without errors. Here, you have to distinguish between simple dictation apps on the one hand and voice control for devices, that can also be used for dictation, on the other. Accordingly, some programmes only work online and others offline as well. What they have in common is that the better the microphone and the more accurate the pronunciation, the more precise are the results.

Free tools for speech input for texts are WhatsApp, the Android app Gboard or the online tools  Speechtexter, just to name a few. You can find a comparison of nine speech-to-text solutions here.

With voice input and voice control of devices, the protection of personal data and privacy is an important issue. The privacy information of the respective service informs you whether voice inputs are stored. Here you can find tips on how to protect your data when using voice assistants.