Microsoft’s latest Garage app is for recording group transcripts

Microsoft’s newest Garage app, the company’s brand for more experimental apps, is Group Transcribe, which allows groups of people to capture collective meeting transcripts in real time using their phones. It is available for free now on iOS.

“This app uses a multi-device approach to provide high-quality, real-time transcription and translation, so users can be more present and productive during meetings and personal conversations,” said Lainie Huston of Microsoft in a blog.

That’s how it works. Everyone who wants to participate in the group transcript needs to download the Group Transcribe application. Then, a person initiates a transcript and can invite others to participate by sharing a five-letter conversation code, a QR code or joining the group transcript with close sharing via Bluetooth.

Then, the app will begin transcribing the group conversation, noting who said what. Group Transcription can also automatically translate things that people say and show those translations on the line as part of the transcript. Transcripts are saved to the app so you can review or share them after a meeting.

Here is a screenshot of what transcripts and translations look like:

Image: Microsoft

Microsoft suggests that each person attending the meeting should use their own phone “within reach” to have “the highest quality experience”. And in a FAQ, Microsoft says that Group Transcribe does not have a limit on how many people can participate in a transcript, but notes that the application works best for “face-to-face meetings. [with] up to four people. “

Microsoft does not require you to sign in to any type of account to use the application – you only need to enter your name and preferred language. The app sends data to the cloud as part of the speaker identification and transcription process, but Microsoft allows you to choose whether to share recordings of meetings with the company that will be used to help improve Microsoft speech recognition technologies. And if you’re doing a group transcript, everyone in the group needs to agree to share the recordings before one is shared with Microsoft.

You can read more about the application and its privacy features in the Microsoft FAQ.