Introduction

Live transcription is a tool that converts spoken words into text in real-time, allowing you to read along as the conversation unfolds. This can be especially helpful for people with hearing impairments, as well as those who prefer to read rather than listen.

Google Meet's live transcription feature uses machine learning to transcribe the words spoken during a meeting, and it is available in multiple languages. However, it's important to note that the transcriptions are not always 100% accurate, so it's a good idea to use them as a guide rather than relying on them completely.

Setting Up Live Transcription in Google Meet

Before you can use the live transcription feature, you'll need to make sure it's enabled in your Google Meet settings. Here's how to do it:

1. Open Google Meet and click on the three dots in the top right corner.

2. Select "Settings" from the menu.

3. In the "General" tab, look for the "Live transcriptions" section.

4. Toggle the switch to "On."

Starting a Transcribed Meeting

Now that you have the live transcription feature enabled, you can start a transcribed meeting. Here's how:

1. Start a new meeting in Google Meet.

2. Click on the three dots in the bottom right corner of the window.

3. Select "Turn on live transcriptions" from the menu.

Viewing the Transcription

Once you've started a transcribed meeting, you'll see a transcript of the conversation appear at the bottom of the screen. You can use the scroll bar to view the entire transcript or use the search bar to find specific words or phrases.

Customizing the Transcription

You can customize the live transcription feature to suit your needs. Here are a few options you can adjust:

• Language: You can choose the language that the transcription is in by clicking on the language dropdown menu in the top right corner of the transcript window.

• Speaker Names: You can choose to have the transcript display speaker names by clicking on the "Speaker names" toggle in the top right corner of the transcript window.

• Automatic Captions: You can turn on automatic captions for the video portion of the call by clicking on the "Automatic captions" toggle in the top right corner of the video window.

Sharing the Transcription

You can share the transcript with others by clicking on the "Copy transcript" button in the top right corner of the transcript window. This will copy the entire transcript to your clipboard, which you can then paste into an email, document, or other application.

Saving the Transcription

If you want to save the transcript for later reference, you can do so by clicking on the "Save transcript" button in the top right corner of the transcript window. This will save the transcript to your Google Drive in a text file.

Disabling the Transcription

If you no longer need the transcription, you can turn it off by clicking on the "Turn off live transcriptions" button in the bottom right corner of the window. This will stop the transcription and hide the transcript window.

Enabling Live Transcription

Before you can use live transcription in Google Meet, you'll need to make sure it's enabled in your Google Account settings. Here's how to do it:

1. Go to your Google Account settings by clicking on your profile picture in the top right corner of any Google page and selecting "Google Account."

2. In the left-hand menu, click on "Data & Personalization."

3. Scroll down to the "General Preferences for the Web" section and click on "Web & App Activity."

4. Scroll down to the "Web & App Activity" section and make sure the toggle switch is set to "On."

5. Scroll down to the "Include Chrome history and activity from sites, apps, and devices that use Google services" section and make sure the toggle switch is set to "On."

6. Once you've enabled this setting, you're ready to use live transcription in Google Meet.

Starting a Meeting with Live Transcription

To start a meeting with live transcription, follow these steps:

1. Go to meet.google.com and click on the "Start a Meeting" button.

2. In the "Start a Meeting" window, click on the "Add conferencing" button.

3. Select "Live transcription" from the list of options.

4. Click on the "Start a Meeting" button to begin the meeting.

Using Live Transcription During a Meeting

Once you've started a meeting with live transcription, you'll see a transcript of the conversation in the chat window on the right side of the screen. As people speak, their words will appear in the transcript in real-time.

You can use the transcript to follow along with the conversation, or you can use it as a reference if you missed something that was said. If you see a mistake in the transcription, you can click on the word and edit it directly in the transcript.

Customizing Live Transcription Settings

Google Meet's live transcription feature offers several customization options to help you get the most out of it. Here are a few things you can do:

• Change the language: By default, live transcription uses the language of the person speaking. However, you can change the language of the transcription by clicking on the "Settings" button in the bottom right corner of the screen and selecting "Language."

• Turn off live transcription: If you don't want to use live transcription during a particular meeting, you can turn it off by clicking on the "Settings" button in the bottom right corner of the screen and selecting "Live transcription." From there, you can toggle the switch to "Off."

• Download the transcript: If you want to save a copy of the transcript for reference later, you can download it by clicking on the "More options" button in the chat window and selecting "Download chat history." The transcript will be downloaded as a plain text file.

Tips for Using Live Transcription Effectively

Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of live transcription in Google Meet:

• Speak clearly and distinctly: The accuracy of the transcription will depend on the clarity of your speech, so try to speak clearly and distinctly. Avoid mumbling, speaking too quickly, or talking over others.

• Use simple, straightforward language: The transcription software may have difficulty with complex or technical language, so try to use simple, straightforward language whenever possible.

• Use the "Identify speaker" feature: Google Meet's "Identify speaker" feature allows you to label each speaker in the transcript, making it easier to follow along with the conversation. To use this feature, click on the "More options" button in the chat window and select "Identify speaker." Then, type in the name of the speaker and click "Add."

Accessibility Considerations

Live transcription can be a valuable tool for people with hearing impairments or those who have difficulty understanding spoken language. However, it's important to keep in mind that the transcriptions are not always 100% accurate and may contain errors.

If you're using live transcription to assist with communication during a meeting, it's a good idea to have a backup plan in case the transcription is not sufficient. This could include having a sign language interpreter present or using a text-based communication tool such as Google Chat.

Conclusion

Live transcription can be a valuable tool for improving communication and accessibility during meetings. With Google Meet's live transcription feature, it's easy to follow along with the conversation and stay engaged, even if you struggle to understand spoken language or have hearing impairments. Whether you're using it to keep up with a fast-paced conversation or as a reference for later, live transcription can help you get the most out of your meetings.

How Hume Can Help

If you're looking for an easier and more efficient way to transcribe and summarize your meetings or interviews, Hume may be the perfect solution. Hume is an interview intelligence platform that records, transcribes, and summarizes interviews, making it easy for you to review and analyze the conversation later.

Here are a few ways Hume can help with live transcription:

• Automatic transcription: Hume uses advanced machine learning algorithms to automatically transcribe your interviews or meetings, saving you time and effort. The transcriptions are highly accurate and can be edited as needed.

• Summary highlights: Hume's summary highlights feature automatically identifies key points and highlights them in the transcript, making it easy for you to review and understand the conversation.

• Customization options: Hume offers a variety of customization options, including the ability to customize the transcript format, choose a font and color scheme, and add speaker labels.

• Collaboration tools: Hume's collaboration tools make it easy for you to share transcripts and highlights with your team, as well as add comments and notes.

• Interview training: In addition to transcription and summarization, Hume also offers interview training tools to help you improve your interview skills and increase your chances of success.

Overall, Hume is a powerful tool for anyone who needs to transcribe and summarize meetings or interviews. Whether you're a hiring manager, an HR professional, or a researcher, Hume can help you unlock the insights and data you need to make better decisions.