Using the Apple Dictation Feature to Write on Your MacBook—[T3]

Let me apologize in advance to all of my friends who are Windows users. The super coolness that you are about to read about is only for my brethren who use Macintosh computers.

I know that Siri brings up a lot of mixed emotions for people. Some people really love using her. Others feel jilted by her, because she never seems to be around when they need her.

I have actually had a pretty good experience using Siri. Maybe that's why something I found buried in the settings of my MacBook made me so excited.

I have experimented with dictation software before, but I never really found anything that suited me. Either the software was slow, or it couldn't sort out what I was saying very well. I kept having to back up and edit what I was dictating, which completely defeated the purpose of using dictation software.

Enter Apple "enhanced dictation."

I'm not sure if you ever found it before, but there was a dictation feature in previous editions of Mac OS X. From what I remember though, it was nothing like the features found in Mavericks.

Here's the difference: Siri makes you wait until it uploads your recorded voice to Apple servers, converts your spoken words into text, then sends it back to your phone. From what I remember, the dictation feature available previously in Mac OS X did essentially the same thing. But the new "enhanced dictation" that Apple has added to its dictation feature makes waiting for text to appear on your screen a thing of the past. You can even use it without being connected to the Internet.

With this setting enabled, text appears on my screen at the cursor almost as fast as I can speak it. I can also jump in and manually type anything that I need to without the dictation feature deactivating and me having to reactivate it. That's pretty cool!

How to Set It Up

If you go to "System Preferences > Dictation & Speech" and enable dictation, you can use these advanced features. Just be sure to check the box titled "Use Enhanced Dictation."

The software will make you wait until it downloads A few hundred megabytes of information, but after that you're set to use the feature! I have mine set to activate the instant I double press the "fn" key on my keyboard.

It's that simple!

Questions and Concerns

* How fast can I talk using dictation?* I have found that as I've been using the dictation software, and it has learned more of the eccentricities of my voice, I can almost speak at a normal talking speed. The biggest problem I have is simply trying to figure out what to say next!

What about typing in scripture references? This was one of my main concerns when it came to dictating my writing. I have discovered that this isn't as big of a deal as I thought it would be. In fact, there's a formula for speaking scripture references that works nearly every time.

For instance, if I want to add John 3:16 as a reference, I will speak the following: "John three colon 16."

If it is a reference like 2 Thessalonians 3:1 then I just say: "Numeral two Thessalonians three colon one."

Of course you can always simply pause and type it out the old-fashioned way.

What about the crazy difficult Bible names that are not only hard to say but hard to type? What I have found is that I can very easily pause and type a difficult name in, like Naaman. Other names like Nebuchadnezzar seem to have been learned by the dictation software after I corrected them immediately following speaking. Based on what I've read, the software will slowly learn and adapt to your dialect as well as vocabulary.

Conclusion

It's not always perfect, but it's a lot closer than anything else I've ever used to actually being usable on a regular basis.

In fact, I used it to dictate the entirety of this blog post. Occasionally I had to back up and correct something, but the dictation feature actually made fewer mistakes than I normally do typing!

One other quick tip to throw in: I have found that using my earbud microphone for my iPhone actually helps a lot. I seem to get more accurate dictation by using it then I do trying to use the computer's built-in microphone.

The only thing that will really take some learning and getting used to is remembering all of the voice commands to be able to use voice dictation effectively. There is a support page on Apple's website that lists all of the voice commands available.

As I said before, I'm really excited about this feature and look forward to using it to enhance my workflow this week! I will be sure to let you know how things go.

– Daniel

John Moseley: A Tribute

Some of the words you are about to read are ones that I wish I had expressed a long, long time ago. As you will come to understand by reading this, they have a bit of a hollow ring to them now. But I couldn't keep them to myself, because I know there are many right now who feel the very same way I do.

When I entered Austin Peay State University in the fall of 2004, I had my heart set on becoming a music education major. Music was what I wanted my world to be—I couldn't imagine myself doing anything else besides.

Along with my scholarships came a work study requirement. Being as green as I was, I didn't realize that I was supposed to sign up for one. I'm sure I was one of the last to choose a department. Since the Communications Department was in the same building as the Music Department, and there were no more openings in music, I chose communications.

Enter Professor John Moseley. He reminded me of Santa Claus, except without the belly. He could be serious, but almost always wore a smile. Everyone liked him, and if they didn't... well, I never met anyone who didn't! I started work under his guidance.

One semester later I would change my major to communications, and he would become my advisor. It's his fault that I changed majors.

Through the countless hours that I spent with him in studios, control rooms, production trucks, and (occasionally) classrooms, I gained the knowledge and confidence I needed to enter the world of media production.

Instead of my formal classes, I credit my work study with teaching me most of what I learned about cameras, lights, microphones, audio mixers, and the finer points of video and audio production. You see, most of the time that work study was one-on-one time with Mr. Moseley. Professional or not, we didn't interact as instructor and student, but as two friends who shared a common love for what we were doing—whether technology, music, or photography.

Near the end of my college career there were times that he would simply put a project in my hands, and let me "go with it." You can't imagine how much confidence his trust gave me.

More than anything, he taught me how to be curious with technology—to try things out, and continue to learn. There were times that he reminded me of MacGyver, except instead of paper clips and a Swiss Army Knife, he used coax and gaffer tape. I still follow his example and philosophy in my work today.

For a time I worked with the University Facilities as a technician. That led to some opportunities that jumpstarted my freelance video production business. It's that business that helped feed, clothe, and shelter my wife and me during our college years.

It was Mr. Moseley who recommended me for the job with Facilities.

I was privileged to work on projects with both President Sherry Hoppe and President Timothy Hall—because Mr. Moseley recommended me for them.

The man truly did more for me than I ever could have done for him.

I'm not the kind of person to make overly sentimental or emotional statements, so you can know I mean it when I write the following: John Moseley is one of the handful of people who I consider to have shaped me into who I am today.

He had an absolutely profound effect on my life during my four years at Austin Peay. If you knew him personally, you probably feel the same way.

I started by writing that my words seem a bit hollow now. Let me explain why. For all that he meant to my life, I lost contact with Mr. Moseley after I graduated from college. A few days ago I found out that he was losing his battle with colon cancer. This morning I found out that his battle was over, and that he had passed from this life.

Oh, how I so desperately wish that I had told him how much of an impact he had on my life. Again, if you knew him, you might even feel the same way.

Allow me to share a few things that have been on my mind during all of this:

As I write these words, I'm preparing to take on the position of Director of Information and Technology at the Southeast Institute of Biblical Studies. Since graduating college I have worked as a minister, but have also done everything I could to use the production skills and abilities I have to further the cause of Christ's Kingdom. I would like to think that some good has come from using those abilities.

But were it not for God's providence and my time with Mr. Moseley, I may have never switched my major to communications and developed the skills and abilities I have today. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to him that I will never be able to repay.

With that debt of gratitude in mind, I also encourage you to do this: Be sure to tell people how much they mean to you today. Never wait to express gratitude, or you may never get the chance.

Finally, it is vital to live a life that affects others in a positive way. Always be willing to share knowledge and insight that will help others grow and become better people. That was John Moseley's modus operandi. Accordingly, his knowledge and wisdom will far outlive his physical existence through the minds and hands of those whom he taught.

Mr. Moseley, you will be greatly missed, but not forgotten.

My prayers are with the family of John Moseley at this time. May the God of all comfort help you through this trying time (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:3).

• Daniel