4/5
ListenAll is an application developed by the University of Alicante together with the Vodafone Spain Foundation to help people with hearing disabilities to communicate and to help people with a physical disability to create documents.
The application is free to use and is available for download at the following links in the Google Play and Appstore stores:
March 2020
ListenAll is an application that allows people with hearing difficulties to communicate with the people around them, although it can also be used by people who have handling difficulties, being able to create documents through diction.
Features
This application has 2 main features: voice transcription and history. Both can be accessed through the main screen.
- Voice-to-text transcription. It recognizes the voice of the person or users who intervene in the conversation and passes everything it collects to text.
- History. This feature allows you to save the transcripts in addition to being able to edit and share them with friends or through social networks.
Configuration
The application allows us to configure different aspects grouped into 2 sections:
- General adjustments. This section allows us to activate the intelligent transcription, that is, to activate if we want the text to be structured in paragraphs and putting punctuation marks. It also allows us to select the language of voice recognition, Spanish being the default and, finally, to select the transcription without an internet connection, which allows us to download several languages to save on the cost of data on the device when it is in use. using without Wi-Fi connection.
- Text settings. This feature allows us to change the size of the text and its font type, in addition to giving us a choice between 5 types of text and background contrast.
In the configuration we are also provided with a support section that provides us with a contact with the developers and certain information regarding the application.
In order to analyze and be able to carry out an evaluation of the application, a series of tests have been carried out to verify its correct operation. These tests will be carried out on an Android device
The first tests are related to the voice transcriptionist, which have been carried out in three different scenarios.
- Conversation in a silent environment. During the tests carried out in this environment, the application has worked well since, since there is no noise, the sound is captured correctly, however, if the people who are participating in the conversation are very far from the mobile device or sometimes even at Not too great a distance, sometimes there are words that he cannot grasp, creating a void in the transcripts.
- Conversation in a noisy environment. During the tests carried out in this environment, the application has responded in a good way, although its operation has depended a lot on the place in which it is being used and especially on the amount of background noise, which makes the transcription not be so good since it changes some words and others cannot be identified. Therefore, it is necessary to speak near the microphone of the mobile itself or use an external one, which is the most recommended, even when we are not in a noisy place.
In addition, this application has been tested with two different external microphones: one that is part of a headset that connects via cable and others that connect wirelessly via Bluetooth. In both cases the transcription has improved remarkably, however, there are still some words that it does not transcribe correctly, although it is not a very serious problem since the transcripts can be edited. In any case, the use of external microphones is highly recommended as it reduces the number of errors in transcription.
In general terms, the application works correctly, helping people with hearing difficulties to be able to carry on a conversation or so that people with a physical disability that makes it difficult for them to write on touch devices can write documents. The latter could be very useful when taking notes in a class by providing the teacher with a wireless microphone.
The strong point of this application is without any doubt being able to edit the transcripts both at the time the conversation is taking place by touching the screen in the place where the error in the transcription has been identified and after saving it in the section of record. This ability to edit conversations greatly mitigates the problems that could arise if the text were not transcribed correctly. This is the main difference that it presents compared to other transcriptionists that we have previously analyzed, such as the Android Instant Transcription.
Another very positive thing is that the application is available for both Android devices and IOS devices, and being free makes this an application to consider as a communication system.
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Brief description of the application
ListenAll is an application to use with mobile devices, either for IOS or Android. Its function is to recognize the voice of the speaking person and transcribe it into text, in a structured way so that deaf or hard of hearing people can communicate. As well as the preparation of documents through dictation, helping people with motor deficits.
To check, analyze and assess the usefulness of the application for deaf or hard of hearing people, and people with motor disabilities, Pepe, our volunteer specialized in product testing for people with reduced or no hearing, has carried out different tests in typical scenarios day-to-day conversation as well as dictation tests.
Conversation between two people in a silent environment
During the tests carried out in this way, he tells us that it works really well, since there is no background noise, the capture of sound and therefore words is much more efficient, achieving a very good instantaneous transcription.
It is very pleasantly surprising how the text is structured as it transcribes.
He also tells us that it has been very convenient for him to be able to pause the transcription at any time, either to correct an error in the text or because the speaking person takes a break, etc.
As in other voice recognition applications, it is necessary to ensure that the interlocutors are not too far apart because the mobile microphone is limited, and the distance causes it a lot, causing mistakes or gaps due to lack of reception.
Conversation between two people in a noisy environment or on the street
In this mode it depends on where we are and on the ambient noise itself, on the proximity and position of the mobile to be able to capture the words well and that the user can read the text that is being transcribed on the screen well. It works fine but limited by background noise.
It is interesting and he recommends us to bring an external microphone or a headset with a microphone, he connects it and is used by the person who, when speaking, the microphone picks up the audio of the words very well and the transcription improves considerably. You can also use a microphone by bluetooth connection, so that it allows greater distance between the people who establish communication.
Conversation between more than two people inside a house
With the microphone of the phone it often falls short because of the limitation of this. For example, at a table with 4 people, the lack of capture of the words of the furthest interlocutor can be seen. The use of an external microphone is recommended to ensure better sound pickup. And it must be emphasized that they try to speak in an orderly manner and avoid speaking at the same time, even though it is sometimes difficult.
Create documents using voice dictation
This function also helps people with motor deficits, which prevents them, for example, from writing documents properly.
It is really simple, by pressing the microphone icon you can start the dictation, the text is structured very well with its commas, periods and followed, paragraphs, etc. It is really impressive. Very in its favor the option to pause and continue at any time with the transcription, correct errors when pausing it, and be able to save, to later edit, share or print the text.
Either to prepare interviews, agenda, notes of work, etc. It is a function for work and educational use that greatly favors accessibility for people with hearing and motor deficits.
Educational use
It is a great application for this purpose. Facilitates inclusion in the follow-up of classes or events. Easy to use by both teachers and students.
On the part of the teaching staff
It allows the teacher who has students with hearing impairments to prepare and share the contents with the students easily and immediately. Even using a lavalier or lavalier microphone, you can transcribe class development in real time.
On the part of the students
It allows to receive in real time the explanations that the teacher is dictating. in class using an external microphone. Just as if the teacher. prepares the content in the form of dictation by text, you can share it so that later it can be edited, modified and recorded according to the criteria of the student.
Track other events
Following colloquia, talks or lectures is only possible with the use of an external microphone.
Integration in the Application AbilityConnect
He wants to comment on this point since he considers it very important and essential. You have used the application both to follow conversations and to prepare documents by voice dictation, for example, this report.
This app can be used as much as ListenAll or through its total integration in the app AbilityConnect. In summary, it must be said that it multiplies the use and connectivity between users who need it.
It's like using the app ListenAll but connecting multiple devices. The one who emits the text can transcribe the content in real time to various devices via Wi-Fi, data or bluetooth connection.
It has also tested between several devices and it works very well, each one receives the exact same thing. The issuer can broadcast in spoken or written form.
Great application that favors accessibility to communication for people with hearing and motor problems. It contributes to communication efficiently, although sometimes limited, and can be considerably improved through the use of microphones external to the mobile.
Remember that you do not need an internet connection so you can make instant transcriptions, you only have to download the language pack to use. In certain scenarios, the transcription is really good as long as you speak well and the microphone of the mobile phone captures the sound correctly.
It allows for simple and very useful customization settings. From forcing it to work only through Wi-Fi connection, language, text and background color, size and font type.
In a noisy environment or with several people, we strongly recommend the use of an external microphone that will allow us to better capture the sounds than the telephone microphone, as a reporter or centering it when there are several people gathered.
Very good for creating documents using voice dictation. The text is structured quickly and logically.
For educational use or class monitoring, recommend the app AbilityConnect in which it is perfectly integrated. Since it allows a fluid communication and to several recipients, either by Wi-Fi connection, data or bluetooth. Wi-Fi connection corrects bluetooth distance limitation.
For him it has become an application really useful and indispensable, undoubtedly improves communication between deaf or hard of hearing people, it also allows to prepare documents quickly, easily and without ads or advertising.
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