How many prefer dictation over typing out notes?

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I recently posted on r/ObsidianMD asking about dictation over typing, and I wanted to expand on that here with some additional insights.

I learned that you can dictate 3x faster than you can type, which made me wonder if dictation could improve my writing and note-taking processes.

After experimenting with dictation for a few days, I’ve noticed some advantages and challenges:

Pros:

  • Dictation is significantly faster than typing.
  • It’s particularly useful for capturing quick notes on my phone.

Cons:

  • Some words and phrases are transcribed incorrectly, resulting in unclear notes.
  • Speaking punctuation is initially awkward, though it becomes easier with practice.
  • Editing and revising still seem better suited to a keyboard.

Another key point is that using a keyboard can lead to repetitive strain injuries, whereas dictation avoids this risk.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences with dictation. How do you integrate it into your workflow, and what challenges have you faced?

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Some people find it easy, some will find it very hard.

There may be privacy issues if people can overhear you

One of my clients likes to dictate. He sends me voice memos through messaging services. I use Whisper in Obsidian to quickly transcribe them into text, and then AI (Text Generator) to reformat/process them. Much faster than human transcription and at least as accurate.

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True. Sometimes there’s nothing you can do about being overheard.

There are also privacy concerns regarding Ai transcription and data collection. It’s possible that local Ai’s could address this concern in the future.

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Local AI for transcription is already available. Apps like MacWhisper use the whisper model locally. It works well, but requires a fast machine. The quality of those transcripts is amazingly good.

Overhearing is the reason why I use dictation only in some locations.

For some unclear reasons I like dictation on some devices more than others. Talking into an iPhone comes natural. Dictation on iPad or Mac feels only natural if combined with a headset. And sometimes I prefer talking into a small voice recorder without immediate transcription.

I neither prefer dictation over typing, nor typing over dictation. What works for me is a combination of both.

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Oh, that’s cool—I didn’t know local Ai already arrived for consumers (i.e. non-CS people) with fast enough computers.

I really appreciate this take. You have to do what works for you, and that’s all there is to it.

I personally resonate with your reasons for using a combination of both.

Thank you for your insight on this somewhat banal question :sweat_smile:

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Typing can hurt your hands, but dictating can hurt your throat. I am not used to speak a lot, and trying to dictate a long text leave me hoarse. Also it’a pain to edit this text afterwards. That’s why I only use dictation for short notes.

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True—there are accessibility concerns either way then.

Dictation for short notes seems to work for me as well.

I appreciate the different input on this post—I’ll summarize the various points in a follow-up.

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Here’s a summary comparing dictation to typing out notes.

Pros:

  • Dictation is significantly faster than typing.
  • It’s particularly useful for capturing quick notes on my phone.

Cons:

  • Some words and phrases are transcribed incorrectly, resulting in unclear notes.
  • Speaking punctuation is initially awkward, though it becomes easier with practice.
  • Editing and revising still seem better suited to a keyboard.
  • Privacy is an issue if you can be overheard.

Other key points:

  • Using a keyboard can lead to repetitive strain injuries, whereas dictation can leave you hoarse.
  • Local Ai (e.g. MacWhisper) can be used to transcribe quickly and privately
  • Dictation seems more naturally suited to some device formats, but less so others
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On the “speaking punctuation” issue, Whisper and other AI are pretty good about putting punctuation in the right places even if you don’t dictate it. (ie you can dictate a full note without punctuation and transcribe it later with Whisper adding the punctuation in.) I know that this works well for business letters, emails, that kind of thing. Haven’t tried it for novels with dialogue.

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