Ara.so vs Dictation Wands: Passive AI for Real Clinical Notes
Dragon-era workflows still lean on push-to-talk devices. We compare that habit with passive AI capture.
Dictation depends on memory
The provider must remember every symptom, lab, and plan while simultaneously typing commands like 'new paragraph'. If a patient interrupts, the dictation string becomes unusable.
Power users create dozens of commands, but onboarding new clinicians takes weeks.
Ambient capture mirrors the actual visit
Ara maps speakers in real time and anchors each quote to the timeline. Providers finish the conversation, glance at the structured summary, and sign. No need to re-say anything.
Because Ara highlights confidence per sentence, clinicians can skim uncertain spots and edit before signing.
- Remove transcription lag: the summary is ready when you leave the room.
- Coaching hints show when you or the patient spoke softly so you can adjust mic placement.
- Sign-off flows directly to the EHR via our FHIR bundle exporter.
| Feature | Ara.so | Dictation Wands |
|---|---|---|
| Workflow | Passive Listening | Active Dictation |
| Cognitive Load | Low | High (Must recall details) |
| Hardware | Existing Mic/Phone | Specialized Wand |
| Output | Structured Note | Raw Text Block |
When to keep dictation
Legacy specialties that rely on ultra-formal letters (pathology, radiology) may still dictate for final formatting. For every conversational specialty, Ara's AI scribes eliminate the mental load of narrating.
Key takeaways
- Dictation works only if you narrate perfectly.
- Ara.so listens passively and builds the note without re-saying anything.
- Reserve dictation hardware for edge cases; move the rest to ambient AI.