[Colorado-Talk] From Anthony Corona: Voice Memos; the power of productivity… A Sunday edition tech Spotlight

[Curtis Chong]

From: Anthony Corona <sundayeditionac at gmail.com> 

A Tech Spotlight

By: Anthony Corona


Voice Memos may be one of the quickest and most powerful productivity tools already built into your iPhone. By assigning it to the Action Button, you can capture information, ideas, instructions, and important moments almost instantly.

For me, Voice Memos has become an essential part of how I work, travel, attend conventions, and manage information throughout the day.

I have assigned Voice Memos to the Action Button on the left side of my iPhone. With one press and hold, I can begin recording without searching for the app, navigating through folders, or trying to type information before it disappears.

It is quick.

It is simple.

And it can be incredibly useful.

Assigning Voice Memos To The Action Button Using VoiceOver

The Action Button is available on supported iPhone models. It is located on the left side of the phone above the volume buttons.

Here is how to assign Voice Memos to it using VoiceOver.

Unlock your iPhone and go to the Home Screen.

Locate the Settings app.

VoiceOver will announce Settings.

Double tap to open it.

You can explore the Settings screen by swiping right until you hear Action Button.

You can also use the search field near the top of Settings.

To use the search field, touch near the top of the screen or swipe right until VoiceOver announces Search.

Double tap.

Type Action Button using the onscreen keyboard or use dictation.

Swipe right through the search results until VoiceOver announces Action Button.

Double tap.

The Action Button settings screen will open.

Unlike many traditional Settings screens, the Action Button screen presents a collection of available actions. Swipe left or right with one finger to move through them.

As you swipe, VoiceOver will announce choices such as Silent Mode, Focus, Camera, Flashlight, Voice Memo, Recognize Music, Translate, Accessibility, Shortcut, and other available options.

Continue swiping until VoiceOver announces Voice Memo.

Once Voice Memo is selected, you do not need to press a save button. Your selection is saved automatically.

You can now return to the Home Screen.

Using The Action Button To Record

When you want to begin recording, press and hold the Action Button.

You may hear a sound or feel a vibration confirming that the action has started.

Speak the information you want to save.

When you are finished, press and hold the Action Button again to stop the recording.

Your recording will be saved automatically in the Voice Memos app.

You do not have to unlock your phone, find the app, or locate the Record button each time you want to capture something quickly.

That is the magic of assigning Voice Memos to the Action Button.

Real World Uses

The real value of Voice Memos is not simply recording audio. It is capturing information before it vanishes into the fog of a busy day.

Imagine walking through a crowded exhibit hall at a convention.

A vendor gives you a website, phone number, product name, promotional code, or contact person. You may have people moving around you, music playing, conversations happening in every direction, and very little space to stop and type.

Press and hold the Action Button.

Say the information clearly.

Press and hold the button again when you are finished.

Later, when you are back in your hotel room or sitting somewhere quieter, you can open Voice Memos and review everything at your own pace.

Here are a few more ways Voice Memos can become your pocket sized productivity assistant.

Record part of a lecture, workshop, or presentation after receiving permission.

Capture a quick recipe while someone explains the ingredients and preparation.

Save a phone number, website, email address, or confirmation number.

Record instructions from a doctor, trainer, technology specialist, or customer service representative after receiving permission.

Capture an article, podcast, interview, or social media idea before you forget it.

Record notes immediately after a meeting while the details are still fresh.

Save the name of a restaurant, book, movie, television program, podcast, product, or service someone recommends.

Create a spoken shopping list before entering the store.

Record directions to a meeting room, exhibit booth, restaurant, or transportation pickup location.

Save your hotel room number, conference room name, departure gate, or parking location.

Document accessibility problems while traveling so you can provide accurate details later.

Record the exact wording of an error message when a website or application is not working properly.

Capture questions you want to ask during a meeting, medical appointment, interview, or convention session.

Practice a speech, presentation, podcast introduction, or audition and listen back to your pacing and delivery.

Record a melody, lyric, story idea, or creative thought when inspiration arrives without making an appointment.

Create a verbal journal while traveling.

Record the names of people you meet and a few details about the conversation so you can remember them later.

Capture a quick inventory of items packed in a suitcase, stored in a container, or placed in a particular drawer.

Record step by step instructions while someone demonstrates how to use a new device, appliance, or application.

For Students And Professionals

Voice Memos can also be valuable in school, at work, and during volunteer activities.

Students can record lectures and classroom discussions when permitted.

Professionals can capture brainstorming sessions, meeting summaries, project ideas, and follow up items.

Writers can record rough paragraphs and ideas while walking, traveling, or relaxing.

Podcasters can test introductions, questions, promotional lines, and episode concepts.

Advocates can document observations immediately after an incident while the time, location, and details are still fresh.

Convention attendees can capture booth information, session highlights, names, contact details, and reminders without constantly stopping to type.

Using Voice Memos Through The App With VoiceOver

The Action Button is the fastest method for me, but you can also record directly through the Voice Memos app.

Locate Voice Memos on your Home Screen or in the App Library.

VoiceOver will announce Voice Memos.

Double tap to open it.

Swipe through the screen until VoiceOver announces Record.

Double tap the Record button.

Begin speaking.

While recording, VoiceOver may announce the elapsed recording time as you move through the available controls.

Swipe until VoiceOver announces Stop.

Double tap Stop when you are finished.

The recording will be saved automatically.

The recording may initially be named New Recording. It may also use the name of your location when Location Services is available for Voice Memos.

Playing A Recording With VoiceOver

Open the Voice Memos app.

Swipe right through your list of recordings.

VoiceOver will announce each recording name and may also announce information such as its length or date.

When you find the recording you want, double tap it.

Swipe through the available controls until VoiceOver announces Play.

Double tap Play.

To pause the recording, locate the Pause button and double tap.

You can also use the playback controls to move forward or backward through the recording.

Renaming A Recording With VoiceOver

Renaming recordings can make them much easier to find later.

Open Voice Memos.

Swipe until you locate the recording you want to rename.

Double tap the recording to open it.

Swipe until VoiceOver announces the current recording name.

Double tap the name.

The text field will become available for editing.

Delete the existing name and enter something useful and specific.

You might name a recording Convention Exhibit Hall Contacts, Recipe From Maria, Doctor Appointment Instructions, Podcast Idea, Hotel Information, or July Meeting Notes.

When you are finished, locate Done and double tap.

Using Transcriptions

On supported iPhones and in supported languages and regions, Voice Memos can create a written transcription of spoken audio.

Open Voice Memos.

Locate the recording you want to review.

Double tap the recording.

Swipe through the available controls until you hear More.

Double tap More.

Swipe until VoiceOver announces View Transcript or Copy Transcript.

Double tap View Transcript to read the text with VoiceOver.

Choose Copy Transcript when you want to paste the entire transcription into Notes, Mail, Messages, or another application.

This can turn a quick spoken idea into text that you can edit, organize, share, or use as the beginning of an article.

Keep in mind that transcription is not always perfect. Names, website addresses, unfamiliar terms, and conversations recorded in noisy environments should always be checked carefully.

Pausing And Resuming A Recording

Sometimes you may want to create one longer recording without capturing every silent moment.

Open Voice Memos and begin recording.

Swipe through the available controls until VoiceOver announces Pause.

Double tap Pause.

When you are ready to continue, swipe until VoiceOver announces Resume.

Double tap Resume.

When the entire recording is complete, locate Done or Stop and double tap.

Recording While Using Another App

Voice Memos can continue recording while you move to another app, provided that the other app does not begin playing audio.

Start your recording in Voice Memos.

Return to the Home Screen.

Open the app you need.

Voice Memos can continue recording in the background.

Be careful when opening music, video, podcast, social media, or other audio applications. When another app begins playing audio, Voice Memos may stop recording.

Using Siri

Siri may also provide a convenient way to begin a recording.

Activate Siri and say, Record a voice memo.

Follow any spoken prompts.

This method can be helpful when your hands are occupied or when you are not using an iPhone with an Action Button.

The exact Siri response may vary depending on your iPhone, settings, language, and version of iOS.

Keeping Voice Memos Easy To Reach

There are several ways to make Voice Memos easier to access.

Assign Voice Memo to the Action Button on a supported iPhone.

Place the Voice Memos app directly on your Home Screen.

Add Voice Memos to an easy to locate folder.

Use Siri to open Voice Memos or begin a recording.

Use Spotlight Search to locate the app.

To use Spotlight Search with VoiceOver, go to the Home Screen and swipe down with three fingers.

VoiceOver will announce the search field.

Type Voice Memos or use dictation.

Swipe through the search results until VoiceOver announces Voice Memos.

Double tap to open it.

You can also create a Shortcut that begins a recording and assign that Shortcut to the Action Button. This option is useful for people who want to build a more customized routine involving Voice Memos and other actions.

Recording Quality And Microphone Placement

For a quick personal reminder, you can usually hold the phone naturally and begin speaking.

For a lecture, meeting, or recipe demonstration, place the phone on a stable surface with the microphones facing toward the primary speaker.

Move the phone closer to the speaker when possible.

Avoid covering the microphones with your hand, clothing, a bag, or papers.

In a crowded exhibit hall, bring the phone closer to your mouth and speak clearly.

You can also use a supported headset or external microphone when you need better audio quality.

Background noise can make names, numbers, and website addresses difficult to understand later. When recording important information, repeat it slowly.

For example, say the website once normally and then spell any unusual words.

Repeat phone numbers in smaller groups.

Include context at the beginning of the recording.

Instead of recording only a phone number, say, This is the phone number for the company demonstrating the accessible thermostat at booth 214.

That extra sentence may save you from solving a tiny audio mystery later.

Organizing Your Recordings

Voice Memos can become cluttered quickly when you use it regularly.

Rename important recordings as soon as possible.

Delete recordings you no longer need.

Create folders for categories such as Work, Travel, Recipes, Podcast Ideas, Medical Information, Convention Notes, and Personal Reminders.

Review short recordings at the end of the day and transfer any important information into Contacts, Calendar, Notes, Reminders, or another permanent location.

Think of Voice Memos as an information collection basket.

It catches the information quickly.

You can organize it properly when you have more time.

A Quick Word About Permission And Privacy

Always remember that laws and policies regarding audio recording vary by location.

Before recording another person, a lecture, meeting, medical appointment, private conversation, or public presentation, obtain permission when required.

Some conferences, schools, workplaces, medical offices, and events may have their own recording policies.

Voice Memos is a productivity tool, but it should always be used responsibly and respectfully.

One Small Change With Big Results

Technology does not always need to be complicated to be powerful.

Assigning Voice Memos to the Action Button has made it easier for me to capture information, preserve ideas, document experiences, and remain productive in situations where stopping to type would be difficult or inconvenient.

A crowded convention hall.

A quick conversation.

A recipe shared across the kitchen.

A brilliant idea that arrives while walking the dog.

One press and hold can catch it before it disappears.

Do you use Voice Memos as part of your daily routine?

Have you found a creative way to use the Action Button, Siri, transcriptions, or VoiceOver with Voice Memos?

Share your experiences, favorite techniques, and practical tips with us.

For more Tech Spotlights, accessibility conversations, podcasts, advocacy, entertainment, and digital media content, visit www.anthonycorona.com <http://www.anthonycorona.com> .

Sometimes the most powerful productivity tool is not a complicated new application.

Sometimes it is simply the ability to say, remember this, and know that your iPhone will.
 
  _____  

 
Cordially,
 
Curtis Chong
 
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