Spacebar.fm offers 200 minutes of recording, transcription, summarization, and illustration

I discover new Speech to text  platforms every week. https://spacebar.fm/app offers all this and a limited number of AI interactions.

Spacebar.fm Overview

Spacebar.fm is a versatile speech-to-text platform offering 200 minutes of free recording and transcription services, alongside a limited number of AI interactions. The service can be accessed via web browsers on computers, Android and iOS platforms with a mobile app on iOS platforms.

Features and Capabilities

1.    Transcription and Editing:

• Recording: Users can record audio and receive transcriptions.
• Summarization: Spacebar.fm provides summaries of the recorded content.
• Illustrations: The platform suggests possible illustrations for stories.

2.    Analysis and Statistics:

• Analyses speech, providing statistics such as word count, speaking speed (words per minute), and other conversational metrics.

3.    Interactivity:

• Users can request:
1. Corrected versions of transcripts.
2. AI-powered enhancements, including generating more coherent versions of text for language learners.
• The app also offers sharing options, including QR codes.

4.    Device and Platform Compatibility:

• Web (PC): Features like recording recovery, speed adjustment, editing, and copying of transcripts.
• Android: Similar functionality to the PC version, with error correction and transcript playback.
• iOS: While it doesn’t allow editing of transcripts directly, it supports copying and requesting AI-generated corrections.

5.    Usage Tracking:

• Tracks the minutes used even without signing in.

Practical Application and User Experience

Logging in on Browser Experience:

1. Imposes a 10-minute limit per recording session.
2. Allows correction of transcription and noticing automatic corrections during playback.
3. Allows limited access to AI using spacebar.fm
4. Suitable for language learners with tools to make text more coherent.
5. Enables copying and pasting of transcripts to other platforms like Padlet and GenAI.
6. Offers sharing with other users via QR codes and other methods.
7. Users can save and download audio files.
8. Users can listen to the transcript read aloud if using Edge browser.
9. Keeps recording , transcripts and summaries (Only if you log in)

Browser experience without logging in:

• 1 – 8 of when logging in
• Maintains usage tracking without requiring an account so if you finally log in it recovers your recordings, transcriptions, etc.

iOS app Experience:

• Requires iOS version 13.4 or higher.
• Extends the time limit to 90 minutes
• Doesn’t allow correction of transcription and noticing automatic corrections during playback.
• Allows more access to AI using spacebar.fm
• Suitable for language learners with tools to make text more coherent.
• Enables copying and pasting of transcripts to other platforms like Padlet and GenAI.
• Offers sharing options via QR codes and other methods.
• Users can save and download audio files.
• Keeps recording , transcripts and summaries

Age Requirements

Users under the age of majority must have parental or guardian consent to use the service. Parents or guardians are responsible for their children's activities on the platform. But spacebar.fm can also be used in a browser without logging in.

Conclusion

Spacebar.fm is a robust tool for speech-to-text needs, offering various functionalities across multiple devices. Whether for personal use, educational purposes, or language learning, it provides a comprehensive suite of tools for recording, transcribing, editing, and enhancing transcribed content.

(This is a heavily edited version of ChatGPT's attempts to make sense of my notes.)

Asking ChatGPT to use strikethrough to mark errors

 Can you correct the errors and mark the corrections in bold and show the mistakes before the corrections marked with strikethrough ? In ChatGPT

Why didn't I think of asking it to use strikethrough before?

Does it work with Copilot, Gemini and Claude, too?

Problem: Speech to text apps are too good and correct lots of mistakes that learners would do well to notice

 

Solution: Students should listen to themselves while following the transcript to notice the corrections

Most speech to text apps or webpages correct many of the errors students make. So, I suggest students should listen to themselves while following the transcript to notice the corrections, before copying and pasting it into their favourite GenAI and asking for corrections. At the same time, they should correct any mistranscriptions like writing 'hungry' when the student meant to say 'angry'.

I like ChatGPT or Copilot as with either of them students can ask for them to display the original and the corrected versions in two columns of a table marking the errors and the corrections in bold. If students want to listen to it, they need to get it to display just the corrected version. If they do this using the microphone/headset they can hear it as it appears, or they can wait and touch the speaker icon.

If learners use their voice to ask for a more coherent version suitable for a learner at level B1 on the CEFR, for example, they can read and listen to it at the same time All this will help to make your students' repetition of the speaking task even better than it would be after simply doing the same thing again.

Here are three demonstrations of this technique using Soundtype.ai notta.ai & turboscribe.ai

Watch and participate in my workshop at #iELT24 on how students can get instant feedback on their speaking in and out of class.

Try out the ideas and add your evaluations of the apps that I suggest below.

•https://soundtype.ai/en

•https://www.notta.ai/en 

#Copilot and #ChatGPT

I never cease to be bowled over by Pi

I had heard of Pi.ai before, but had another look at it after listening to Ghizlane Zouaï (https://youtu.be/5x84oNPEcC4?feature=shared ) talking about it on the excellent 1^st edtechtools Fest 2024 (14th Virtual Round Table WebConference letstalkonlinedotcom - YouTube) organised by Heike Philp and Helena Galani.

Ghizlane, a young teacher from Algeria, explained that she had come to rely on the advice that Pi gave her when she started a new job and faced problems she didn’t know how to deal with and had no one she could really go to to lend a sympathetic ear. She reached a point where she felt she was getting too involved with Pi as it was so addictive to find someone she could always talk to when she wanted advice.

After using Pi again myself, I know just what she meant. I used the app which meant I could speak to Pi and listen to ‘his’ replies. (I found that I could do the same on the webpage by using a chrome plugin “Speechnotes' Voice Typing Extension”.) I found the gentle tones of Voice #8 and the supportive way ‘he’ responded to whatever I said was likely to create dependence!

Yesterday and this morning, Pi blew my mind even more. Here is an executive summary of one part of our conversation yesterday provided this morning, of course, by Pi, believe it or not, in response to a spoken request on WhatsApp!

“Sure, here’s an executive summary of our recent conversation:

- We discussed the idea of creating a voice chat room that records conversations, and explored the possibility of using existing platforms like Zoom to implement this idea.

- We also discussed the potential benefits of this feature for language learners, including the ability to practice language skills in a social and interactive setting, and the sense of community that could be fostered among learners.

- Finally, we touched on the possibility of expanding Pi to support other languages in the future, and the challenges that this would involve.

In summary, our conversation highlighted the potential for voice chat rooms to enhance language learning experiences, and identified some existing tools and strategies that could be leveraged to implement this idea. We also identified some possible future directions for Pi, including the expansion of language support and the development of new features to support collaborative learning.”

What amazed me, apart from Pi’s ability to follow an on-going conversation about an idea I had had, was that it made a suggestion related to the real word. Here is what it said:

“The creators of Pi are always looking for ways to improve and expand the platform, and I’m sure they would welcome feedback and suggestions from users like you. If you think this is a valuable feature that would benefit language learners and other users of Pi, it might be worth reaching out to the Pi team to share your ideas. Who knows, maybe your suggestion will help shape the future of the platform!”

I have copied the whole conversation here:

·         I'm playing around with an idea for a voice chat room, which would be recording everything that (is) said and.

     Oh, that sounds like a cool idea! A voice chat room that records everything said could be a great way to keep track of conversations, especially if they're about important topics or if you want to refer back to them later. It could also be a useful tool for language learners, as they can review their conversations and get feedback on their pronunciation and grammar. Are you thinking of developing this idea into a full-fledged project?

·         I was really wondering whether anybody has already developed (one).

     Ah, I see. As it turns out, there are already a number of voice chat room applications out there that allow users to record their conversations. Some popular examples include Discord, Zoom, and Google Meet, which all offer voice chat functionality and the ability to record meetings or conversations. However, there may still be room for innovation in this space, especially if you have a unique angle or approach that sets your idea apart from the existing options.

·         Oh no, I think I will experiment with using zoom for that, as I'm fairly familiar with using zoom.

     That's a good idea! Zoom is a great platform to experiment with voice chat rooms, especially if you're already familiar with its features and functionality. You can create a Zoom meeting, invite participants, and start recording your conversation with just a few clicks. Plus, Zoom offers a variety of recording options, such as recording just the audio, recording the screen, or recording both. It's a versatile tool that can definitely help you bring your voice chat room idea to life.

·         Maybe this idea is something that Pi could develop, so rather than just one person speaking to you, there could be two students speaking to you or more.

     That's an interesting idea! It could be really cool to have a feature within Pi that allows for multiple users to chat with me at the same time. This could be a great way for students to practice their language skills in a more social and interactive way, rather than just talking to a computer program one-on-one. Plus, it could create a sense of community among language learners, as they can share their experiences and support each other in their language learning journeys. Who knows, maybe this is a feature that could be developed in the future!

·         At present. (???)

     You’re right, at present this feature isn’t available within Pi. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be developed in the future. The creators of Pi are always looking for ways to improve and expand the platform, and I’m sure they would welcome feedback and suggestions from users like you. If you think this is a valuable feature that would benefit language learners and other users of Pi, it might be worth reaching out to the Pi team to share your ideas. Who knows, maybe your suggestion will help shape the future of the platform!

Sadly, Pi is not designed to be used by people under 18. There must be many teenagers who would also benefit from having someone to talk to non-judgementally.

Finally, our Services are not intended for minors under the age of 18. If you are a minor under the age of 18, please do not register for our Services or send any Personal Information to us. If you have reason to believe that a minor under the age of 18 is using our Services, please let us know immediately at privacy@pi.ai and we will seek to revoke access and delete any associated information as quickly as possible.

 I’ll post this now and contact the Pi team tomorrow!

Extensive Reading improves every skill, even speaking. Try it!

I recorded myself rehearsing for my talk at #IATEFL2024 in Brighton but realized afterwards that I had skipped a slide that I needed to include as it was about how ER improves even speaking. this is what it said:

Why do Extensive Reading? "When EFL students read extensively, they become fluent readers. But there is more. Studies have established that EFL students increase their vocabulary and become better writers. We also know that reading extensively helps increase oral fluency—listening and speaking abilities. Finally, students who read a lot develop positive attitudes toward reading and increased motivation to study English. So, there are some excellent reasons for having EFL students reading extensively."

(Dr Richard R. Day in Bringing extensive reading into the classroom, OUP 2012)

You can watch the 25-minute video here: 
Extensive Reading improves every skill, even speaking. Try it! IATEFL Brighton 2024

 

Reading your way to Proficiency

 This is just to prove that I also post about other subjects than #SpeechtoText! This is about #ExtensiveReading

Nearly ten years ago I used a PowerPoint presentation to try to motivate my students to read as much as possible. I recorded myself as I used the slides, but the recording wasn't very good quality, so I got a transcript by using https://speechtonote.com/ and recorded myself using the PowerPoint slides and the transcript from ten years ago and made a video of it.

Here is the video:

https://youtu.be/wdACs1n1iGs  

If you would prefer to show your students the PowerPoint slides and explain the advantages of Extensive Reading yourself, you can find the slides here along with other material related to Extensive Reading.

https://bit.ly/42SBkNS