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Voice transcription/dictation in notes

If you prefer speaking your text instead of typing or using a stylus, keep reading to

Learn how to use the built-in voice dictation options available on your desktop, tablet, and mobile

We'll cover Mac, Windows, iOS, Apple and Android voice dictation in this article.

Enable voice dictation on Mac

With the built-in keyboard dictation on a Mac, you can dictate text anywhere you would normally type it in Bookem.

Please be aware that dictated text is sent to Apple servers to process your requests. More information can be found in Apple's Dictation & Privacy Policy.

Follow these steps:

Turn on keyboard dictation on Mac

  • In the Dictation section, select On

  • If a prompt appears, click Enable Dictation

  • If asked to improve Siri and Dictation, select Not Now (this keeps your audio recordings private)

To dictate in another language, select the language and dialect in the Language drop-down menu

  • Lastly, choose your preferred keyboard shortcut to activate voice dictation on your Mac

    For example, you can select "Press Control Key Twice" or create a custom shortcut

Using the dictation keyboard on Mac

Now that you've turned on keyboard dictation, you can use your voice to type in Bookem.

  • Start by opening Bookem in your Mac browser and click or place your cursor in the text field where you want the spoken text to appear.

  • Next, press the Microphone key in the row of function keys (if available), use the dictation keyboard shortcut you've set up, or navigate to Edit > Start Dictation from your Apple menu.

  • When you've finished dictating, use your dictation keyboard shortcut again, press the Return key, or click Done beneath the Microphone icon.

Here are some tips for punctuation commands on Mac

Enable voice dictation on Windows

Windows 10's Dictation feature uses speech recognition, requiring no additional downloads or installations. You just need a set-up a microphone.

Note: Microsoft collects and uses your voice recordings for text transcription when using its cloud-based speech recognition.

Follow these steps:

Using dictation on your PC

  • Open Bookem in your browser

  • Select a text field (e.g. a patient Treatment note)

  • Click the Windows logo key + H to open the dictation toolbar

  • Start speaking and use voice commands as needed. To stop, say "Stop dictation"

Using dictation on your Windows tablet

  • On a Windows tablet or touchscreen, open Bookem

  • Click the microphone button on the touch keyboard to start dictating

  • Click it again or say "Stop dictation" to stop

Here are some tips for punctuation commands on Windows

Voice dictation on Apple iOS

Depending on your device and iOS version, you can enable the dictation feature in your iPhone or iPad settings to dictate text instead of typing.

Note: When Apple On-Device Dictation is activated, text dictation is processed on your device, while some requests may need server-based processing on Apple servers.

Follow these steps:

Enable dictation on iOS

  • On your Apple device, go to your Settings App > General > Keyboard

  • Toggle Enable Dictation to ON

Using voice dictation on iOS in Bookem

  • Open Bookem, tap any text field to bring up the keyboard

  • Click the Dictation button (microphone icon)

  • Start speaking and the words will appear as you speak

  • Tap the keyboard button when finished

Note: Apple Dictation might not be available in all languages or all regions

Here are some tips for punctuation commands on iOS

Voice dictation on Android

As long as your device is compatible with Android 7.0 or later, you can use the voice-to-text feature through the Google Keyboard app, Gboard, in most areas where keyboard typing is possible.

Follow these steps:

Enable dictation on Android

  • If you're not using Gboard, do a quick internet search for your phone type and how to use voice transcription. If you can't find anything or don't feel like the extra effort, follow the next steps

  • On your Android mobile or tablet, install Gboard

    Once Gboard is installed, voice dictation is automatically activated!

Using voice dictation on Android in Bookem

  • Now, open Bookem on your Android browser and switch to the Gboard keyboard

  • Tap any text field to bring up the keyboard

  • On your keyboard, click and hold the Microphone icon. When you see "Speak now", you can start transcribing

Here are some tips for punctuation commands on Android

Pro-tip: Using Dragon Dictation (not sponsored!)

Many practices choose Dragon Medical One for their dictation and speech recognition software.

Dragon Medical One is a paid, secure, cloud-based speech platform tailored for physicians and other clinicians. Dragon Medical users can benefit from the Dragon Medical Web Extension for Chrome. Users can gain access to a wider range of commands with this extension; including the ability to click links, buttons, and other objects by name, which means you can easily use it on Bookem.