Better Voice Support: In Google Docs and Slides

In the past 4 months, we have been presenting updates of the recently acquired tools to the Google Workspace service. Among them, we can find the voice support service for Google Docs and Slides.  

For those who do not know what Google Workspace is, here is a summary, so you can better understand the context of these updates.  

What is Workspace?  

Google Workspace, formerly known as G Suite or Google Suite, is a Google cloud-based service that supports collaborative work in hybrid environments.  

And it works as a system of tools that seamlessly integrates all the essential elements of teamwork, such as email, chat, voice and video calls, shared documents, task management, administration console or security tools so that users can connect, create, and collaborate easily and reliably, wherever they are.  

The Joy for an Update  

Something I would like to emphasize in the article is that the joy of the update of this tool is not only for those who use it to facilitate their expressions with Docs or Slides, but also for those who depend on it to carry out their daily duties, such as people with visual impairment.  

Knowing that there will be fewer and fewer errors affecting those people who really depend on this tool is very satisfying. So, we can say, now that Docs and Slides are easier to use with your voice! 

All Detail About the Latest Update 

In this latest update, it is included two big improvements to voice-related features. I know, these are features that already existed, but now they have been updated to reduce transcription issues and lost audio. Also, you can find an expanded availability for voice features on browsers. 

Between the features, Google specifically mentioned two where these improvements will make a difference: 

1. Should be improved, the tool of typing in a document or presentation using your voice, you can also add captions to slides in real time. And those captions will now also include auto-generated punctuation, which was not present before. 
2. Even when, transcription is hard to get right, but Google has been notably good at it, with its speech-to-text model being one of the absolute best out there. It is high time some of Google’s most used services got them, like happen with the case of Google Meet. 

Other major updates 

Apart from the voice support updates, I would like to mention others that can also be a support for people with disabilities or improve the way you interact with the tools, programs, or apps of Google, in this specific case. 

Extended linguistic support for subtitles and translated subtitles 

A year ago, Google announced the launched and general availability of translated captions in the app Google Meet. And all know, that translated captions provide real-time translations of the speaker’s language, helping to make meetings more inclusive and collaborative for meeting participants. 

And from December 16, 2022, this feature it was expanded. Now, you can: 

• Translate English calls into Japanese, Mandarin (simplified), and Swedish  
• Translate French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish calls into English. 
• Additionally, standard captions are now available in Japanese, Russian, Italian, Korean, Dutch, Portuguese, Mandarin (traditional). 

If you want to know, the complete list of available languages. Visit the Help Center. Some languages will include a “Beta” tag as they continue to optimize performance and introduce additional languages over time. 

Remember that, the availability depends on which are you going to use: 

• Translated captions 

Available for meetings organized by Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade. 

• Captions 

Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers. 

Present Google Slides directly in Google Meet 

Many Google Meet users share content on their screen during meetings. You will now be able to control your Slides and engage with your audience all in one screen by presenting Slides from Meet. 

This update, is available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Education Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Nonprofits customers.