Dictation software: Old tech, relevant use
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The world is feeling pretty heavy… and yet still we must go on. Learning to use dictation software strategically has helped me to create more space in my day for physical activity, sunshine, AND productivity – and I want to share what I’ve learned with you.
I learned this skill out of necessity. Jolted by a debilitating tech-induced injury in 2020, I was forced into stillness and onto a path of self-discovery and habit change. The keyboard ferocity I’d refined with Mavis Beacon in the early 2000s and the pace of operation that had served me in the years following proved no longer viable.
I had to teach myself to work smarter, not harder, and I learned much along the way that can benefit others experiencing similar technology-related ailments.
So, dictation huh? Why should I care?
Learning to “talk-to-text” tech reduces reliance on our hands to communicate our ideas.
Many of us are experiencing some form of arm or wrist pain. I began to learn this anecdotally through conversations with peers and others in my extended network, and discovered even more through research validating those anecdotes. For example, research from a healthcare IT organization reveals that “technology-related ailments have risen 40% since the start of the pandemic” and Google search volume shows an increase in search for “tech-related ailments”, primarily driven by hand and finger pain.
It's no wonder, we average ~2,000+ keystrokes per email -- a product of an average of 4.7 letters/word x 434 words per average email. While this rough data may or may not be representative of each of our personal experiences, the point stands…that's a lot of keystrokes!
Dictation therefore offers us two main benefits...
(1) Reduces repetitive motion from typing, thereby relieving strain and pain
(2) Enables us to conduct text-based work more flexibly, releasing us from the chains of the keyboard, and introducing new, autonomous ways to work
Dictation is challenging because we hear ourselves make mistakes aloud
Integrating any new skill into our lives brings about novelty and opportunity, as well as fear and insecurity. Using dictation challenges us to (1) change existing habits and (2) learn a new skill -- two difficult things to do.
Changing existing habits without being prompted (though your wrists may be prompting you now!) defies human nature; as the saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it." For me, I was forced to challenge my existing habits, otherwise perhaps I would not have. This experiences shows that the proverbial “it” can break… so, maybe it’s time to listen to those whispers before they become screams.
Learning a new skill takes practice, and with practice, mistakes. But with dictation comes a unique challenge akin to learning a new language -- it triggers an emotional response brought about when we hear ourselves make mistakes. A “great deal of human emotions arise in response to real, anticipated, remembered, or imagined rejection” and my observation has been that hearing ourselves make mistakes may trigger a stronger self-judgment than that which occurs when typing (National Institute of Health, 2015).
Finally, the transition from communicating primarily via written word to spoken word is not to be underestimated. We use different parts of our brains to speak versus type. “Spoken languages are stored/ encoded on the left side of the brain, whereas writing is controlled by the right side of the brain,” requiring practice to improve (Stanford Neuroscience, 2013).
Rethinking how we do work requires reflecting on our current motivators and drivers, which can get a bit emotional, speaking from experience. I urge us to let this knowledge be empowering rather than overwhelming.
So, how do I get started?
A few tips to start your dictation journey:
Prepare:
Familiarize yourself with the functionality. Dictation technology is ubiquitous in our smartphones. Look for the microphone-looking button on your keyboard
Assess how you communicate textually right now - What is the percentage split of how you do work (e.g., between keyboard typing, phone typing and dictation)? What shift could you make in that split?
Begin:
To test the waters, start by dictating your notes somewhere by yourself. Practicing alone offers intimacy, privacy and security that can help prevent you from feeling shame towards the stumbles inherent to learning a new skill.
Choose one activity to start; an email or a brainstorm are best. Go on a walk; open your phone’s notes app or a draft email, and begin speaking a draft of your ideas. When you return home, grab a glass of water and begin editing.
Be patient. Know that the dictation might take a little while to understand your pronunciation. Human biases in tech exist here too - but the tool will adapt to you, as will you to it.
Thank you for reading. I hope this information was helpful and look forward to hearing your experience beginning this journey!
“The solution to mankind’s most vexing problem lies not in renouncing technology but in attaining some degree of independence from it”
