I was working with a group of kindergarteners the other day and using speech to text options in Book Creator.
The delight when they were able to speak THEIR IDEAS and then see THEIR IDEAS written right before their eyes was palpable.
Of course, some words were wrong, some of the kids picked this up immediately,

“that isn’t how it’s spelt”,
“that isn’t the right word”.
So, what could we do. A chorus of “speak louder”, “speak slower”
I chimed in with: “speak clearly and say the ends of the words”.

NO tedious typing, NO spelling problems, just speaking and straight to text with their words.
They were entranced.
The kids could get their ideas written down immediately.

A vision impaired boy could just speak his ideas and they were immediately turned to text.
Then he could press the “Read to Me” option on Book Creator to hear his text read back. AMAZING

Humans are born with an innate capacity for language, often referred to as the "language instinct."

Kids start school knowing how to speak.
There is a distinction between language acquisition and literacy.
SPEAKING is instinctive for children, it is acquired through interaction & exposure.
We are genetically hard wired to learn language.
However, reading & writing require formal instruction and practice, as these skills involve decoding symbols (letters)
& constructing meaning in a structured way.

While SPEAKING is instinctive, reading and writing are skills that need to be taught.

With speech-to-text and text-to-speech options available on devices, we can now SUPERCHARGE the acquisition of reading and writing skills.

These tools BRIDGE THE GAP between spoken language & reading and writing, making it easier for learners to connect spoken words
with their written forms, practice pronunciation, and develop a deeper understanding of language.

USING Speech to Text, users see their spoken words transformed into text instantly,
making the learning process more engaging, interactive and tailored to individual needs.

With the rise of speech-to-text technology, the ability to speak clearly, concisely, and organize your thoughts into coherent sentences
has become not only an essential skill, but a Super Power.

We are witnessing a return to the most fundamental form of human communication—SPEAKING—which is deeply rooted in our genetic makeup.

SPEECH is our earliest and most natural means of conveying ideas, sharing information, and preserving history.

Listen to the DEEP DIVE Podcast

Download the White Paper on Speaking: The SuperPower of the Future
With Speech-to-Text AI: Speaking and Listening Become Essential Skills
by Cathy Brown September 29th 2024

AI image created using Night Cafe animated with Luma labs Dream Machine - Historic Children Chatting. 

This basic form of communication is hard wired into human cognition, and it developed long before writing and reading systems emerged.

Speech-to-text technology, often powered by AI, is reviving this ancient tradition, enabling a seamless transition between spoken and written language.
This advancement allows individuals to express ideas more fluidly, breaking down the barriers of typing or manual transcription.
Kids can now communicate complex thoughts quickly and naturally, BY SPEAKING, which is more instinctive than writing.

I do love the fact that AI levels the playing field, the Impact of AI is greater the less skilled you are,
Dyslexic, ADHD, EAL/D students, disabled(think speech to text and text to speech)and younger people gain the greatest benefit.

In education, it's not so much a return to basics as it is a return to SPEAKING, which is genetically hard-wired and instinctive.
The resurgence of oral communication enhances learning, much like oral traditions did throughout history.

Just as ancient storytellers transmitted knowledge orally, speech-to-text interactions offer immediate,
interactive learning by capturing spoken words in real time.
This revives the participatory and dynamic nature of communication that oral traditions once fostered, engaging learners in a more active process.

The rise of speech-based interaction taps into our natural inclinations and genetic predispositions for learning.
AI's ability to convert speech into text revitalizes this ancient form of communication, making it more relevant and impactful in today's digital world.

It’s not just a return to basics — it's an evolution in how we learn and share ideas.

Spoken Language is approximately 50,000 to 100,000 years old.

Although written Language is approximately 5,000 to 6,000 years old.
Widespread literacy has only been a common for approximately 100 to 150 years.

Spoken language has existed for tens of thousands of years, vastly outdating the invention & use of reading and writing.

Oral communication has been the primary mode of human interaction for the majority of human history.