You’re probably already familiar with voice-activated AI assistants, thanks to tools like Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, or the as-yet-unnamed technology behind “Hey Google.”

But did you know you can control the newly launched ISN Report Writer with your voice, too?

Of course, controlling an app by verbally telling it what to do isn’t always as simple as saying what’s on your mind. To make the most of the ISN Report Writer’s voice command features, you should know how to tell it what to do… and we’re here to show you how.

You’ll need to activate the Voice Command feature in the ISN report writer before you can start utilizing voice commands. It’s easy:

First, tap the microphone icon in the top right corner of the app, as shown in the screenshot below:

The first time you do this, you’ll be prompted to grant the ISN app access to your device’s microphone. However, you may have already given access to your microphone if you’ve tried to add or edit media before trying Voice Commands. After you approve this prompt, you won’t be asked again – but if you ever feel the need to remove microphone access from the ISN app in the future, you may need to adjust app permissions elsewhere, which you typically have to handle through your device’s Settings >> Apps section.

Once you’ve given the app access to your microphone, you’ll be able issue voice commands to the ISN Report Writer whenever you tap the microphone icon. Each command will need to be initiated through this icon – otherwise your ISN Report Writer app might start recording everything you say during your inspection!

Let’s take a look at the specific commands you’ll need to say to the ISN Report Writer to get it to do what you want.

There are three common voice prompts used to control the ISN Report Writer:

The Go To voice command moves your active cursor or input to a specific area in your active inspection report in the ISN Report Writer. For example, you can tell the Report Writer to Go To a specific named category, component, or line on your inspection report.

Here are some common Go To commands:

If the named category or line isn’t in your active report, the ISN Report Writer won’t be able to Go To it when commanded, so you may want to make sure you set up your categories and lines to your preference before using a Go To voice command.

These Go To commands are syntax-specific, so saying “Toilet” instead of “Toilets” won’t get you anywhere unless this line is specifically named “Toilet” with no plural S.

The Add A command lets you directly input your findings into either the active line or the line you command the Report Writer to activate.

Here are some common Add A commands:

You should also be able to enter your comments via voice command as well, through your device’s built-in text-to-speech controls. You can access text-to-speech entry the same way you do elsewhere on your device, usually via the microphone icon in the top right corner of the text input window that opens when text entry is active.

The Take A (or Add A, when used in conjunction with commands for pictures or videos) command lets you record your inspection findings through photos or videos, which can come in handy when you need to find a particular angle for your device that doesn’t easily accommodate tapping its screen to record something.

The Take A command uses your device’s primary (rear-facing) camera by default.

Here are some common Take A commands:

Once you’ve activated the Add Media window, you’ll need to capture your photos or videos the same way you would otherwise, via the round Capture button in the bottom center of your screen.

That’s it! Once you’ve gotten the names of every part of your inspection reports down pat, it should be a breeze to use voice commands to capture and record information in the ISN Report Writer.

Got any questions about using voice commands in the ISN Report Writer, or need some support for any other aspect of the Report Writer?

Get in touch with our team today!