How a voice-activated teleprompter works
A voice-activated teleprompter listens through the microphone, turns your speech into words with speech recognition and matches those words to your script. It then scrolls so the line you are reading stays at the reading line. You set the pace by speaking; there is no speed to adjust.
1. Listening
Followline passes the sound from the microphone to the speech recognition built into your device. On iPhone, iPad and Mac that is Apple's speech recognition, which runs on the device for most of Followline's seven languages on recent models. On Android it is the phone's speech service, on most phones Google's. Where a device can't recognise a language offline, the speech goes to Apple's or Google's online recognition; on iPhone, iPad and Mac Followline tells you when that happens.
2. Finding your place
Speech recognition is never perfect, so Followline doesn't move on every single word. It compares the last nine words it heard with the script around your position and only moves when it is confident where you are. A misheard word, a cough or a laugh doesn't throw it off.
3. Ad-libs, skips and repeats
- You say something of your own: the words don't match the script, so the text holds still and waits for you.
- You skip a sentence: once you read a full sentence further on, Followline jumps there.
- You read a line again: it goes back with you.
- Mic checks and chatter before you start: ignored until you read from the script.
- Notes in square brackets, such as [smile] or [pause], are shown but skipped.
Voice following or a timer?
| Voice following | Timed scrolling | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Your own, word by word | Fixed, in words per minute |
| Pauses | The text waits | The text keeps going |
| Ad-libs | The text holds still | You fall behind |
| Needs | Microphone and speech recognition | Nothing |
| Best for | Talking to camera, speeches, calls | Music, noisy rooms, rehearsing a set pace |
Followline has both, plus manual scrolling, and you can tap any word to move the reading line there in every mode.
What helps it keep up
- Set the script's language to the language you speak. Each script has its own language.
- Speak at your normal pace and volume. There is no need to slow down.
- Use a clip-on or USB microphone in a noisy room. The microphone you choose feeds both the recording and voice following.
- On iPhone, iPad and Mac, keep Dictation turned on. The system refuses speech recognition when Siri and Dictation are both off.
Questions
Does a voice-activated teleprompter need internet?
Not always. On most recent iPhones, iPads and Macs, Followline recognises its seven languages on the device. Where that isn't possible, it uses Apple's or Google's online recognition.
Does it work with accents?
Speech recognition handles most accents well, and because Followline matches several words at a time, a single misheard word doesn't stop it.
What happens if I go off script?
The text holds still until you read from the script again, then catches up.
Which languages does Followline follow?
English, German, French, Spanish (Spain and Mexico), Italian, Polish and Portuguese (Brazil and Portugal).