Speaking instead of typing
How patients use voice input in the i-consult pre-visit questionnaire: Speak mode, the always-on microphone, audio-level feedback, Submit Answer, switching back to text, and English-only support.
Patients don't have to type their answers to the pre-visit questionnaire. They can speak them instead. This helps anyone who finds typing on a phone slow or awkward, and it often makes for fuller, more natural answers. Here's how voice input works.
How to answer by voice
In the questionnaire, choose Speak instead of Type.
Start talking. The microphone stays on once you begin, so you can speak naturally without holding a button down.
Watch the audio-level feedback on screen. It moves as you talk, so you know you're being heard.
When you've finished your answer, choose Submit Answer to send it.
Want to type instead? Switch back to text at any time. You can move between speaking and typing for every question.
What to expect
- The mic stays on. Once voice input starts, the microphone stays active so the patient can speak at their own pace rather than tapping for each sentence. A first-time note, "Microphone Will Stay On", explains this so it isn't a surprise.
- You can see it's working. Real-time audio-level feedback shows the patient that their voice is being picked up.
- Speaking and typing mix freely. The patient can answer one question by voice and the next by typing; it doesn't have to be one or the other for the whole questionnaire.
The first time a patient opens the chat, i-consult suggests voice with a "Try Speaking for Quicker Input" tip. Patients who prefer to type can simply ignore it and use the Type box (placeholder "Type your response here...").
If voice isn't available
Voice input relies on the patient's web browser supporting it. If their browser doesn't, i-consult shows the message "Voice recording is not supported in this browser". The fix is straightforward: the patient can keep typing their answers as normal, or reopen the same link in a different, up-to-date browser.
For more on browser and microphone problems, see A patient hit an error / voice isn't working.
Voice input currently understands English only. A patient who is more comfortable in another language can still complete the whole questionnaire by typing their answers, and nothing is lost by using text. Broader language support is something the team is working towards.
Related articles
- What your patients receive and see: the full questionnaire journey, start to finish.
- Can a patient pause and come back?: yes, the same link resumes where they left off.
- A patient hit an error / voice isn't working: microphone permissions, unsupported browsers, and what to tell a patient.
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