Voice to Text options when filling out forms on ODK collect

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Hi All,

I am just wondering if there are voice to text options fill out forms on ODKcollect (tablet or phone). I have tried by it says that the device does not have access?

Any thoughts?

Thanks
Patch

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My guess here is that permissions for the device keyboard to use the microphone and transcribe have been disallowed in the past - you can probably check this in 'Permission manager' in settings, go to 'Microphone' and see if any keyboards are under the 'Not allowed' section.

I tried two non keyboard input options on Samsung Galaxy S23 / Tab S7 to test offline voice to text;

  • S23 & Tab S7 - voice input via 'samsung keyboard'
    • Worked with network connection, did not work offline
    • Had to grant permission initially
  • Tab S7 - S-Pen handwriting input
    • Works without network connection

I then went to

  • Tab S7 / S23
    • Settings / General Management / Samsung Keyboard / Voice input, and;
      • Changed from Samsung voice input to Google voice input
      • This then worked offline and had settings to add more offline languages.
  • I also downloaded a language pack from the Galaxy Store on the S23 but this didn't seem to affect anything as the Samsung Voice Input was still non functional offline.
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Is there a specific command or way to do this that would allow users to progress through the form without needing to touch the device at all? I'm starting to experiment with this and would like to know if there is a way to fill out multiple answers to questions without having to touch the device/only using audio. From my brief investigation, I'm guessing the question type matters quite a bit.

I have three questions in a row that are either decimal/integer questions that require users to measure tree height, crown width/diameter, and trunk diameter. The third question is not required, but if not answered, requires a fourth question. Getting the answers to these numbers requires both hands to use a measuring tape and surveys would be sped up significantly if I could have these three responses dictated.

Currently, I can tap an area where I'd type the integer response, change the keyboard by tapping the little keyboard icon on the bottom right under the keyboard, select Google Voice Typing Radio button from the different keyboard options, then tap the microphone button to start recording voice to text for that single response.

What I'd ideally like to do is to:

  1. Tap the response to the first integer question,
  2. Start the voice-to-text keyboard using a voice command
  3. Dictate the integer response,
  4. Dictate a command to proceed to the next question,
  5. Repeat steps 3-4 above for all 3-4 questions
  6. Dictate a voice command to end the voice to text/change back to my default keyboard.

I currently have Gemini as my active digital assistant rather than Google Assistant. I'm using a Google Pixel 6 Pro. I haven't done a lot with dictation on Android yet and I'm confused if I need to be looking more into Google Voice Typing, Google Assistant, or Google Voice Access.

On a side note, yesterday I setup a different voice automation using MacroDroid which allows me to use a bluetooth headset button as a trigger, but ideally, I'd want Step 2 to start using a voice command and not a bluetooth device. My assumption is that what I'm looking to accomplish shouldn't require 3rd party apps outside of Google.