Free voice control for your computer
OVRIDER is a freely available app designed to accrete personal productivity through full computing control by voice.
Dictate text as you speak, then use simple voice commands to punctuate, edit, copy and paste, move and click the mouse, scroll pages, switch browser tabs and manage windows, without touching the keyboard.
There is nothing to buy and no account to create. Open the site, press Engage, allow your microphone and start speaking.
What you can do
- Speech to text: your words appear live as you talk, ready to copy into an email, document or chat.
- Voice punctuation and editing: say "full stop", "comma", "question mark" or "carriage return", and "delete word" to fix mistakes.
- Voice mouse control: say "target" or "grid" to bring up a green grid, then "east 5" or "north east 3" to move the pointer that many grid dots (with a red "Target Locked" sight showing where it is). Once you know the grid, "mouse west 5" does the same in one go, or just "mouse" finds the pointer. "Make it so" to left click and "right click" to right click.
- Scrolling and keys: "scroll down", "page up", "tab", "enter" and keyboard shortcuts such as "hold Alt Tab".
- Copy and paste by voice: "copy", "paste", or "over" (like on a walkie-talkie) to move your words into another app and send them, or "over keep" to send them and keep a copy in OVRIDER.
- Tabs and windows: "control up" and "control down" to switch browser tabs, and "minimise window", "maximise window" or "restore window".
- Hands-free start and stop: say "disengage" to stop listening.
Every command can be switched on or off in the settings, so words you want typed are never mistaken for commands.
Who it is for
OVRIDER is for anyone who wants to use a computer hands-free: people with repetitive strain injury (RSI), limited mobility or other accessibility needs, fast note-takers, and anyone who would rather talk than type.
Questions
Is OVRIDER free?
Yes. OVRIDER is free to use, with no sign-up.
What do I need?
A microphone and a modern web browser such as Chrome or Edge. Dictation works straight away. Controlling the mouse and keyboard needs a small free plugin, for Windows or Mac, which OVRIDER helps you set up from its settings.
Does it work on a Mac?
Yes. Dictation works in any modern browser, and the free Mac plugin adds mouse and keyboard control, using the Mac equivalents of each shortcut (for example ⌘ + Tab to switch apps). Macs ask you once to allow keyboard and mouse control in System Settings.
What happens to my voice?
While OVRIDER is listening, your speech is sent to a transcription service to turn it into text. OVRIDER only listens after you press Engage, and stops when you press or say Disengage.