Voice Recognition / Text-to-Speech Features
Features such as voice recognition and text-to-speech offer flexible communications, and can be useful for people with accessibility limitations in particular. For more features and apps, please refer to the Apps for Accessibility page.
Voice Recognition (VR)*
Voice recognition technology converts human speech into text. It allows you to place a call by speaking a name or a string of digits. This technology can be either speaker-dependent, typically requiring a single user to "train" the product to recognize one voice, or speaker-independent, wherein the product can recognize any user's voice.
Examples of speaker-independent voice commands on selected devices include:
- Call <Name or #>
- Open <App Name>
- Navigate to <Address, name, business name, type of business, or other location>
- Listen to <Name of song, artist, or album in the Google Play Music app>
Voice Recognition is convenient. It also complements compatible Bluetooth-enabled wireless headsets and car kits. And it can be used with or without speakerphone.
Launch the Voice Commands / Voice Dialer / Google Voice Search application using one of the following methods:
- Select the Voice Commands / Voice Dialer / Google Voice Search application from the Main Menu of applications.
- Press and release the Voice key on the side of the phone.
- Double tap on the 'Home' key (for Motorola Android 4.1 and earlier products).
- Swipe up from the bottom center of any screen, or touch the Google Search bar on any Home screen (for Motorola Android 4.1 and later products).
Text-to-Speech (TTS)
"The time is 7:00pm. The date is November 1, 2012."
Text-to-speech technology generates speech from a form of text so that your phone speaks to you.
Examples of text-to-speech features on selected devices include:
- Spoken caller ID
- Readout of Settings Menus
- Readout of Phonebook Contacts
- Readout of Digits Dialed
- Readout of Alphanumeric Characters Pressed
These features can be enabled within the Sounds, Phone, or Accessibility settings within a mobile communications device. For Android devices, use Talkback and Explore by Touch to read your screen out loud – your navigation, your selections within menus, your notifications and more. For more information, refer to the Apps for Accessibility page.
Voice Playback on iDEN Devices
Newer iDEN devices include a Voice Playback menu. For example, the i580's Voice Playback menu allows users to control features that use a simulated voice to guide them through phone menus and through placing and receiving calls.
How to edit your Voice Playback options:
- From the Main Menu, select Settings and press the OK button.
- Scroll down to highlight Voice Playback and press the OK button.
- Scroll down to highlight the available options and turn them On or Off in order to suit your needs.
Voice Playback Menu Options:
Speak Text - Controls whether the user hears a simulated voice as they navigate through phone menus, place and receive phone calls.
Speaker Caller - Controls whether the user hears a phone number or name that is assigned to a Contact when they receive an incoming phone call.
Voice - Allows the user to select the voice that sounds when they activate the Speak Text or Speak Caller options.
NOTE: Please review your user manual to determine if your product includes this capability or how to enable specific features.