Twitter has launched testing on a new feature that will add a more human touch to the way people use Twitter – through their voices. The feature is currently being tested on iOS devices.
The micro- blogging and social networking site is where people go to talk about what’s happening.
Over the years, photos, videos, gifs, and extra characters have allowed people to add their own flair and personality to their conversations. However, sometimes 280 characters are not enough, and some conversational nuances are lost in translation.
And this is where the site’s voice feature comes in. Tweeting with voice is not too different from Tweeting with text. To start, people can open the Tweet composer and tap the new icon with wavelengths. There, they will see their profile photo with the record button at the bottom, on which they can then tap to record their voice.
Each voice Tweet captures up to 140 seconds of audio. Once the time limit for a Tweet is reached, a new voice Tweet starts automatically to create a thread. Once done, people can tap the ‘Done’ button to end their recording, and go back to the composer screen to Tweet.
Voice Tweets will appear on timelines alongside other Tweets. To listen, people can tap the image. Currently only available on iOS devices, playback will start in a new window docked at the bottom of the timeline, allowing people to listen as they scroll. People can also keep listening while using other apps on their phone, or whilst on the go.
Creating voice Tweets will be available to a limited group of people on Twitter for iOS, with the feature being made available to all other iOS users in the coming weeks.
Because Twitter notes that a lot can be left unsaid or misinterpreted using text, it hopes that voice Tweeting will create a more human experience for listeners and storytellers alike.
Whether it is #storytime about their encounter with wild geese in their neighbourhood, or a journalist sharing breaking news, Twitter hopes voice Tweeting gives people the ability to share their perspectives quickly and easily with their voice.
