# Transcription Tool for Canvas The Transcription Tool is a powerful feature that allows you to transcribe audio from participants in your Canvas sessions using the Web Speech API. This tool provides real-time speech-to-text conversion, making it easy to capture and document conversations, presentations, and discussions. ## Features ### 🎤 Real-time Transcription - Live speech-to-text conversion using the Web Speech API - Support for multiple languages including English, Spanish, French, German, and more - Continuous recording with interim and final results ### 🌐 Multi-language Support - **English (US/UK)**: Primary language support - **European Languages**: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese - **Asian Languages**: Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Simplified) - Easy language switching during recording sessions ### đŸ‘Ĩ Participant Management - Automatic participant detection and tracking - Individual transcript tracking for each speaker - Visual indicators for speaking status ### 📝 Transcript Management - Real-time transcript display with auto-scroll - Clear transcript functionality - Download transcripts as text files - Persistent storage within the Canvas session ### ⚙ī¸ Advanced Controls - Auto-scroll toggle for better reading experience - Recording start/stop controls - Error handling and status indicators - Microphone permission management ## How to Use ### 1. Adding the Tool to Your Canvas 1. In your Canvas session, look for the **Transcribe** tool in the toolbar 2. Click on the Transcribe tool icon 3. Click and drag on the canvas to create a transcription widget 4. The widget will appear with default dimensions (400x300 pixels) ### 2. Starting a Recording Session 1. **Select Language**: Choose your preferred language from the dropdown menu 2. **Enable Auto-scroll**: Check the auto-scroll checkbox for automatic scrolling 3. **Start Recording**: Click the "🎤 Start Recording" button 4. **Grant Permissions**: Allow microphone access when prompted by your browser ### 3. During Recording - **Live Transcription**: See real-time text as people speak - **Participant Tracking**: Monitor who is speaking - **Status Indicators**: Red dot shows active recording - **Auto-scroll**: Transcript automatically scrolls to show latest content ### 4. Managing Your Transcript - **Stop Recording**: Click "⏚ī¸ Stop Recording" to end the session - **Clear Transcript**: Use "🗑ī¸ Clear" to reset the transcript - **Download**: Click "💾 Download" to save as a text file ## Browser Compatibility ### ✅ Supported Browsers - **Chrome/Chromium**: Full support with `webkitSpeechRecognition` - **Edge (Chromium)**: Full support - **Safari**: Limited support (may require additional setup) ### ❌ Unsupported Browsers - **Firefox**: No native support for Web Speech API - **Internet Explorer**: No support ### 🔧 Recommended Setup For the best experience, use **Chrome** or **Chromium-based browsers** with: - Microphone access enabled - HTTPS connection (required for microphone access) - Stable internet connection ## Technical Details ### Web Speech API Integration The tool uses the Web Speech API's `SpeechRecognition` interface: - **Continuous Mode**: Enables ongoing transcription - **Interim Results**: Shows partial results in real-time - **Language Detection**: Automatically adjusts to selected language - **Error Handling**: Graceful fallback for unsupported features ### Audio Processing - **Microphone Access**: Secure microphone permission handling - **Audio Stream Management**: Proper cleanup of audio resources - **Quality Optimization**: Optimized for voice recognition ### Data Persistence - **Session Storage**: Transcripts persist during the Canvas session - **Shape Properties**: All settings and data stored in the Canvas shape - **Real-time Updates**: Changes sync across all participants ## Troubleshooting ### Common Issues #### "Speech recognition not supported in this browser" - **Solution**: Use Chrome or a Chromium-based browser - **Alternative**: Check if you're using the latest browser version #### "Unable to access microphone" - **Solution**: Check browser permissions for microphone access - **Alternative**: Ensure you're on an HTTPS connection #### Poor transcription quality - **Solutions**: - Speak clearly and at a moderate pace - Reduce background noise - Ensure good microphone positioning - Check internet connection stability #### Language not working correctly - **Solution**: Verify the selected language matches the spoken language - **Alternative**: Try restarting the recording session ### Performance Tips 1. **Close unnecessary tabs** to free up system resources 2. **Use a good quality microphone** for better accuracy 3. **Minimize background noise** in your environment 4. **Speak at a natural pace** - not too fast or slow 5. **Ensure stable internet connection** for optimal performance ## Future Enhancements ### Planned Features - **Speaker Identification**: Advanced voice recognition for multiple speakers - **Export Formats**: Support for PDF, Word, and other document formats - **Real-time Translation**: Multi-language translation capabilities - **Voice Commands**: Canvas control through voice commands - **Cloud Storage**: Automatic transcript backup and sharing ### Integration Possibilities - **Daily.co Integration**: Enhanced participant detection from video sessions - **AI Enhancement**: Improved accuracy using machine learning - **Collaborative Editing**: Real-time transcript editing by multiple users - **Search and Indexing**: Full-text search within transcripts ## Support and Feedback If you encounter issues or have suggestions for improvements: 1. **Check Browser Compatibility**: Ensure you're using a supported browser 2. **Review Permissions**: Verify microphone access is granted 3. **Check Network**: Ensure stable internet connection 4. **Report Issues**: Contact the development team with detailed error information ## Privacy and Security ### Data Handling - **Local Processing**: Speech recognition happens locally in your browser - **No Cloud Storage**: Transcripts are not automatically uploaded to external services - **Session Privacy**: Data is only shared within your Canvas session - **User Control**: You control when and what to record ### Best Practices - **Inform Participants**: Let others know when recording - **Respect Privacy**: Don't record sensitive or confidential information - **Secure Sharing**: Be careful when sharing transcript files - **Regular Cleanup**: Clear transcripts when no longer needed --- *The Transcription Tool is designed to enhance collaboration and documentation in Canvas sessions. Use it responsibly and respect the privacy of all participants.*