Voice Commands: The Power User's Guide to Workflow Automation

Dictation is just the beginning. The real power of voice computing comes from voice commands—spoken instructions that trigger actions on your computer. Let's unlock that power.

What Are Voice Commands?

Voice commands are custom phrases that trigger specific actions. Instead of typing, clicking, or using keyboard shortcuts, you simply speak.

For example:

Built-In Commands

QuasarSpeak comes with a library of built-in commands:

Navigation

• "open [app name]" — Launch any application
• "switch to [app name]" — Focus an open application
• "new tab" — Open a new browser tab
• "close window" — Close the current window

Text Editing

• "select all" — Select all text
• "undo that" — Undo last action
• "copy this" — Copy selection
• "paste here" — Paste clipboard

System Control

• "volume up/down" — Adjust volume
• "mute" — Toggle mute
• "sleep mode" — Put computer to sleep
• "lock screen" — Lock your computer

Creating Custom Commands

The real power comes from creating your own commands. Here's how:

Simple Text Expansion

The most common use case is inserting frequently-typed text:

command: "insert address"
action: type
text: |
  123 Main Street
  San Francisco, CA 94102
  United States

Running Programs

Launch applications or scripts:

command: "start daily standup"
action: run
program: "C:\\Scripts\\open-standup.bat"

Keyboard Shortcuts

Trigger any keyboard shortcut:

command: "save and close"
action: hotkey
keys: ["ctrl", "s"]
then:
  action: hotkey
  keys: ["alt", "f4"]

Real-World Workflows

Let's look at some practical examples from real QuasarSpeak users:

The Email Power User

# Quick responses
command: "reply thanks"
action: type
text: "Thank you for your message. I'll review and get back to you shortly.\n\nBest regards"

# Navigate to folders
command: "go to inbox"
action: sequence
steps:
  - hotkey: ["ctrl", "shift", "i"]
  
command: "archive this"
action: hotkey
keys: ["e"]

The Developer

# Git shortcuts
command: "git status"
action: type
text: "git status"
then:
  action: hotkey
  keys: ["enter"]

command: "push changes"
action: type
text: "git push origin main"
then:
  action: hotkey
  keys: ["enter"]

# Code snippets
command: "insert function"
action: type
text: |
  function $1($2) {
    $0
  }

The Writer

# Chapter markers
command: "new chapter"
action: type
text: "\n\n---\n\n## Chapter "

# Quick formatting
command: "make this a heading"
action: sequence
steps:
  - hotkey: ["home"]
  - type: "## "

Best Practices

After helping thousands of users set up voice commands, here are our recommendations:

1. Start Small

Don't try to automate everything at once. Start with 3-5 commands for your most repetitive tasks, then expand.

2. Use Natural Phrases

Choose command phrases that feel natural to say. "Email John" is better than "execute email protocol John."

3. Avoid Similar Phrases

If you have commands for "send email" and "send mail," you'll get false triggers. Make each command distinct.

4. Test Before Relying

Always test new commands in a safe environment before using them for important work.

What's Next?

Once you're comfortable with voice commands, explore:

• Macros & Sequences — Chain multiple actions together
• Context-Aware Commands — Different actions in different apps
• Voice Shortcuts — Replace any keyboard shortcut

Voice commands transform QuasarSpeak from a dictation tool into a complete voice-first interface. Start with one command today and watch your productivity soar.