Cheap Chinese USB pedal (AliExpress)
~$10-20
One pedal, emulates one key. Build quality is a lottery, but more than enough to start. Search "USB foot switch single".
Accessibility
A keyboard alternative that does not hurt
If your wrists have given up on typing, dictation might be the tool that gives you your work back. This page is serious about that.
Who this helps
People with RSI (repetitive strain injury), carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, hand and shoulder injury aftermath, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, early-stage Parkinson’s, and any condition that makes prolonged keyboard use painful, slow, or impossible. Also low-vision users for whom dictating is more comfortable than reaching for the keyboard.
What works in the app right now
Hotkey — anything you like. You can map a USB foot pedal (Kinesis Savant Elite 2, VEC Infinity, or any cheap one) to a key — the app accepts it as a regular hotkey, so hands are not required at all. Widget resizable in 3 sizes. Light and dark high-contrast themes, large text. Audible feedback for record start/stop (4 sound profiles or off). Streaming mode: while you hold the key/pedal, recognition is already running — release, and text appears almost instantly.
Recommended hardware
Foot pedals: Kinesis Savant Elite 2 (1–3 pedals, programmable), VEC Infinity USB foot pedal, any cheap USB pedal from AliExpress (~$10–20). Microphones: a laptop’s built-in mic is enough for quiet rooms; for quality — Blue Yeti, Samson Q2U, Audio-Technica AT2020USB+. Need recommendations on a budget? Write to accessibility@aurorawhisp.com.
Free Pro for accessibility users
If 10,000 words/day in the Free tier are not enough because voice is your primary input method, and Pro is financially out of reach for you — write to accessibility@aurorawhisp.com. We give free Pro licences to people who need the app for medical reasons, no proof required. That is our principle.
Contact, early access
If you have specific accessibility needs or want to be an accessibility tester (you see features early, you help us make them more usable) — accessibility@aurorawhisp.com. This is the founder’s direct queue, we reply within a day.
Foot pedal buying guide
The simplest way to remove hands from the workflow is a USB foot pedal that emulates a key. The app accepts it as any hotkey. Three options by budget:
VEC Infinity IN-USB-2
~$30
The standard for transcriptionists. 3 pedals, each programmable to a separate key. Sturdy, no frills.
Kinesis Savant Elite 2
~$150
Premium: 1, 2 or 3 pedals, soft press, low profile (you can work standing). Programmed via the Kinesis app. Lasts for years.
Setup is the same for all: plug in via USB → in the pedal driver assign a key (e.g. F9, Scroll Lock or a special one) → in AuroraWhisp Settings change the hotkey to the same key → done, dictate with your foot. Fully hands-free.
WCAG 2.1 site checklist (honest)
aurorawhisp.com itself should also be accessible. What is in place now:
- Text contrast (AA)✅ Compliant — all main text ≥ 4.5:1 contrast.
- Keyboard navigation✅ All links and buttons reachable via Tab; visible focus ring.
- Semantic HTML✅ Header, nav, main, footer; correct H1-H3.
- Image alt text🟡 Partial — most decorative; screenshots not yet captioned (none yet).
- aria-label on interactive elements🟡 Partial — on icon buttons present; not yet on every form.
- Screen reader support (NVDA, JAWS)🟡 Not yet systematically tested.
- Reduced motion (prefers-reduced-motion)✅ Honoured — widget animations and smooth transitions disable.
- Text resize up to 200%✅ Layout does not break up to 250% browser zoom.
- No keyboard traps✅ No modal traps.