OS X downloads Enhanced Dictation for the language that your Mac is set to use. If you turn off dictation or switch to Enhanced Dictation, Apple will delete your user data and any recent voice data.Older voice recordings (disassociated from your name) may be retained by Apple for “a period of time” ( Wired magazine reports 2 years) and used to improve dictation.Apple will also receive other information to help with dictation accuracy, including, but not limited to, your name, nickname, and contacts.The words you say will be recorded and sent to Apple, then converted to text and sent back.Your words will appear after a pause-you will not see them typed as you speak.Dictation will perform poorly when your Internet connection is slow.Your Mac must be connected to the Internet in order to for you to use dictation.If you choose not to use Enhanced Dictation, you’ll see these differences: What Happens If You Don’t Choose Enhanced Dictation? Since this is a substantial download, it may take a while. This will download software (1.2 GB worth if your language is American English) that will take your dictation offline. Now, select the Use Enhanced Dictation box. We’ll take care of this in the next step, so click Enable Dictation. A warning cautions you that your speech will be sent to Apple to be converted to text and that the names of your contacts may be sent as well to help your Mac recognize what you’re saying. Get started by going to System Preferences > Dictation & Speech > Dictation and setting Dictation to On. New! El Capitan adds a new feature for starting dictation with only your voice, as well as ten built-in “workflow” commands for Dictation. These let you tell your Mac to switch apps, click menus, and more. Enhanced Dictation also makes it possible to enable Dictation Commands. With Enhanced Dictation, none of your recorded speech is sent to Apple and you can dictate continuously, with live feedback.

The Enhanced Dictation software makes it possible for speech recognition to happen on your Mac, as opposed to on Apple’s servers, as it does with Siri. To use El Capitan’s full powers of speech, you must first download additional components from Apple. We’ll first look at how you can talk to your Mac, and then later in this chapter we’ll look at how you can Have Your Mac Talk to You. ① Yes, you can search Spotlight using just your voice-no Siri required. And though your Mac won’t tell you jokes, it can read you a book. But you don’t have to wait for Apple’s digital assistant to arrive on OS X, you can talk to your Mac now-dictating messages, Spotlight searches ①, launching apps, issuing commands, and more. Let’s face it: You wanted Siri on your Mac and you didn’t get it.

How to make my mac read to me