Voice Recognition

Web accessibility is essential for people with disabilities and useful for all. Learn about the impact of accessibility and the benefits for everyone in a variety of situations.

Video on Voice Recognition

This video information is available as a Text Transcript with Description of Visuals below.

What is “Voice Recognition”?

Voice recognition can be used for dictating text in a form field, as well as navigating to and activating links, buttons, and other controls. Most computers and mobile devices today have built-in voice recognition functionality. Some voice recognition tools allow complete control over computer interaction, allowing users to scroll the screen, copy and paste text, activate menus, and perform other functions.

Who depends on this feature?

People with physical disabilities who cannot use the keyboard or mouse.
People with chronic conditions, such as repetitive stress injuries (RSI), who need to limit or avoid using the keyboard or mouse.
People with cognitive and learning disabilities who need to use voice rather than to type.

What are the additional benefits?

Content works for people with temporary limitations, such as a broken arm.
Content is more usable for people who prefer to speak rather than type, for example, while multi-tasking.

What needs to happen for this to work?

Content must be properly designed and coded so that it can be controlled by voice. keyboard compatibility is the basis for such coding. In addition, labels and identifiers for controls in the source code need to match their visual presentation, so that it is clear which voice command will activate a control.

Learn more

Accessibility Principle:
- Functionality is available from a keyboard
- Content appears and operates in predictable ways
Getting Started:
Easy Check:
- Keyboard access and visual focus
- Forms, labels, and errors
User Story:
- Mr. Jones, Reporter with repetitive stress injury
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG Overview):
- Success Criteria relating to “keyboard” and “controls”
Mobile Applicability:
- Mouse required for interaction and navigation
- Non descriptive link label
Tutorial:
- Web Accessibility Tutorials (several related topics)

Text Transcript with Description of Visuals

Audio	Visual
Web Accessibility Perspectives: Voice Recognition	Web Accessibility Perspectives: Voice Recognition
Imagine if you could only communicate with your family by writing.	A woman writes "what would you like for breakfast?", and passes the note to the man next to her.
Sometimes it's just easier to speak. One of the advances of technology is voice recognition. Whether it's searching the web:	A man is using a tablet by voice.
(Tablet user) "Nineteenth century architecture."	Search results appear on the screen.
Dictating emails.	An older man is also using a tablet by voice.
Or controlling your navigation app.	A woman is speaking to her mobile phone and follows the directions on the screen.
Many people with physical disabilities rely on voice recognition to use the computer. (Man in wheelchair) "Place order."	A man with a wheelchair is using a headset for the computer.
But for that to happen websites and apps need to be properly coded. (Man in wheelchair) "Cancel?"	Nothing happens on the computer.
Voice recognition can help lots of other people with temporary limitations too, like an injured arm. (Woman) "Place order."	A woman with her arm in a sling successfully using voice.
It can also prevent injuries becoming worse, like RSI: Repetitive Stress Injury.	A man is outside with a dog taking voice notes on his mobile phone.
Or for people simple preferring voice. (Man in wheelchair) "Place Order."	The man with the wheelchair is now using a website that works.
Web accessibility: Essential for some, useful for all.
Visit w3.org/WAI/perspectives for more information on Voice Recognition	Visit w3.org/WAI/perspectives for more information on Voice Recognition. W3C Web Accessibility Initiative logo