Preserver supports four capture types: text, voice, photo, and video. All four get the same automatic timestamp and GPS tag. But when it comes to day-to-day capture, most people find themselves reaching for either their keyboard or the microphone — and the choice usually comes down to situation, not preference.
When voice notes win
Voice recording is faster when your hands are occupied. A tradie on a ladder can dictate what they're seeing without stopping work. A carer entering a facility can speak a quick observation note while walking. A researcher in the field can narrate what they're photographing without putting the camera down.
Voice is also better for nuance. Tone, emphasis, and context come through in a voice note in a way that a typed sentence can't always convey. If you're recounting a conversation, describing a complex scene, or summarising a meeting, speaking naturally produces a richer record than typing quickly.
- Hands are occupied or gloved
- You need to capture quickly — voice is faster than typing for most people
- The content is conversational or narrative
- You're in low light where typing is awkward
- You want to capture tone or inflection
When typed notes win
Text is better when the record will be searched, scanned, or shared. A typed note is immediately readable at a glance — in a list view, in an export, in a report. Voice notes require playback.
Text is also more precise for numbers, names, codes, or technical terms. Dictating "the serial number is BE-7-7-4-2-slash-Q" takes longer and is error-prone. Typing it takes three seconds.
- The content includes codes, numbers, or proper nouns
- You're in a quiet environment where speaking aloud would be awkward
- The note will be reviewed quickly without playback
- You need to record something brief and factual
Combining both
Nothing stops you from using both types in the same activity. A photo of a damaged component, followed by a typed note with the part number, followed by a voice summary of what happened — that's a complete record that covers different kinds of information efficiently.
The best capture is the one you actually make. Use whichever method means you don't skip the record entirely.
Both give you the same GPS and timestamp. Both are stored privately on your device. The choice is purely about what works best in the moment.
