Zoom Feature Spotlight: Live Transcript

Contributed by Jenn Ray, Learning Technology Administrator I

Recently, Zoom implemented a feature that allows live auto-captioning during a meeting when using the mobile app or desktop client. Although the real-time transcription feature has some limitations, it is still an excellent tool to make your Zoom sessions more accessible. Before we outline how to use the Live Transcript feature in your Zoom meeting, let’s go over some of those limitations:

• The only language currently supported is English.
• While the accuracy in our testing was surprising, it is dependent upon several variables such as:
• The volume and clarity of the speaker,
• The amount of background noise,
• Regional/community lexicons and dialects
• The speaker’s proficiency with English

Because of these limitations, the Live Transcript feature may not be adequate support for any speech-to-text requirements you might have, however in our experience, it can be a helpful tool where more accurate captions aren’t required.

To turn on Live Transcript in a Zoom meeting, click the “Live Transcript” button in your meeting controls at the bottom of the Zoom client.

On the resulting pop-up, click Enable Auto-Transcription. You can also check or uncheck the option at the very bottom to allow your participants to request Live Transcription.

Once you’ve clicked the button above, you’ll notice a message near the bottom of your Zoom screen letting you know the feature is activated. At that time, you can start speaking, and the live transcription will appear near the bottom of your Zoom screen.

Note: Currently, UHCL does not have an external auto-captioning service integrated with Zoom; however, if the Live Transcript feature isn’t appropriate for your needs, you can also assign a participant to type captions while you speak from the same “Live Transcript” pop-up menu.

For more information about this feature and Zoom’s manual captioning ability, please see the Zoom Help Center page linked below:

https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/207279736-Managing-closed-captioning-and-live-transcription

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Support Center (SupportCenter@uhcl.edu) with any questions you may have for us!