Chris, one of our Tech Buddies, talks us through the features of Cortana.
May I introduce Cortana to you…For many of us being a VI has its problems and we are always on the lookout for ways to combat these. I know many of you either use or have heard of Google Assistant and Siri. These are AI assistants (Artificial Intelligence) who can respond to voice or typing to look things up for us, answer questions and help with controlling our smart devices such as Phones, Tablets and things around the home. From talking to and assisting some of our members it has become clear to me that Cortana and Microsoft Voice Typing have somehow been missed off the radar amongst our members.
These are both free and integrated into Windows. There is a more advanced version of voice typing in Windows 11, but let me focus on what you already have.
Microsoft Voice Typing can be used anywhere within Windows, whether it is in a text field on a form or website, writing an email or even a document etc. You don’t need to install or pay for anything! (Other than Windows).
Simply put your cursor in the text field, email body or document where you want the text to go. (Note if you don’t have speakers or a microphone that will need to be addressed first.)
Now press the Windows key + H, you will hear a beep; this tells you that Windows is listening to you. Start talking and Windows will do the typing for you. When you stop talking, Windows will wait for a brief moment and then if you don’t continue it will beep again to indicate it has stopped listening.
Alternatively you can simply say “Stop Dictating” or start typing then it will beep and stop listening. If you wish to continue then press the Windows key + H again, wait for the beep and continue talking.
As for our understated girl Cortana…
If you are familiar with the Google Assistant and or Siri then just think of this as the PC version rather than the Android or iOS (Apple) equivalent.
You can ask Cortana for the time, date, what is in your calendar and even to set appointments reminders and timers etc. You can ask her about the weather forecast, news and what is going on in the world… She even does jokes! She will respond to typing and or voice commands, just say things like “Cortana what time is it?” and she will talk back to you. She will also show you further information on the screen if appropriate, for instance if you said about the weather, she may
bring up the forecast to show you too. You can check the share prices of companies on the stock exchange, you can ask her to open up applications or settings on your PC.
If finding the applications is hard for you just say “Cortana open Word / Outlook” even “write an email!” Well she will open your email application and create a new message, ask you who to send it to (from your contacts) etc, you can use voice typing to write the actual email!
She can do commands or open settings to help you make changes to your PC, even people who can see struggle to find the settings! She can open websites and search the internet for you. Now as an AI she will learn about you the more you talk to her and use what she knows about you to refine her answers and searches she does for you.
She is built into Windows, but it can be a little fiddly getting her set up on some machines. Be patient to begin with and she will show her thanks later by making your life easier. If you’d like help with tech please do get in touch with us.
Our Tech Buddies would love to help. Contact us in the office on
0118 987 2803 or email
info@berkshirevision.org.uk
