Bridgy FAQ (English)

Q1. What can this app do?

A1. Bridgy is an app that helps “bridge” face-to-face conversations through text display, handwriting communication, and translation.

Q2. What input methods are available?

A2. You can use the following methods:

• Line drawing with your finger or Apple Pencil
• Voice input, which converts speech to text
• Keyboard input
• Apple Pencil Scribble for handwriting text input

Q3. The microphone does not work

A3. On your iPad, check the permission setting at Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone.

Q4. I cannot use the translation feature. Please explain it in detail.

A4. The first time you use translation, the required language data must be downloaded and prepared. Please connect to the internet and try again.

Supported languages: English / Spanish / French / Japanese / Vietnamese / Italian / Indonesian
Translation pairs: 49 pairs. Examples: English ↔ English, English ↔ Spanish, English ↔ French, English ↔ Japanese, English ↔ Vietnamese, English ↔ Italian, English ↔ Indonesian.

1) Translation mode settings

Manual translation
Use this mode when you want to check that the text on the screen has been correctly converted before translating.

• Tap the arrow mark → to the right of the microphone.
• The translation will be displayed in the partner’s language.

Automatic translation after recording stops
This mode translates without checking whether the input text on the screen is correct.

• After recording stops, the text is automatically translated into the partner’s language.

Automatic translation after recording stops, with spoken playback
This mode translates without checking whether the input text on the screen is correct, and then reads the translated text aloud.

• After recording stops, the text is automatically translated into the partner’s language and the translated text is read aloud.

Language settings

• Tap the gear icon (Settings) and set the language spoken by Me and the language spoken by Partner.
• Conversation (speech recognition)
  • Set the language spoken by Me.
  • Set the language spoken by Partner.

2) Voice input

• Tap the microphone icon. The microphone color will change.
• Tap the microphone icon again to stop the entire conversation.
• The app will show whether it is listening to Me or Partner, based on the selected language. If the setting is correct, start speaking.
• During conversation, light-colored text appears as speech is recognized.
• When the app detects about 2.5 seconds of silence, it treats the speech as finished and confirms the text in a darker color.
• If you notice a recognition mistake while the light-colored text is still displayed, press and hold the microphone button to cancel the current speech recognition result.

Changing the speaker

• Double-tap the microphone to change whose speech the app is listening to.

3) Keyboard input

• Tap “Enter text (Pen / Keyboard)” in the lower menu. A new window will open.
• Select who is entering the text: Me or Partner.
• Select the language for Me or Partner.
• Tap the white area to show the keyboard.
• Enter text using the keyboard and tap Add. The text will be displayed on the screen in the selected language. It will also be translated depending on the selected translation mode.

Important: It is useful to register frequently used phrases in Text Replacement. You can display a long sentence quickly by typing a short word.

Example: “Nice to meet you. My name is ____.”
Location: Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement

4) Apple Pencil input (Scribble)

This feature does not work on iPhone.

• iPad setting: Settings → Apple Pencil
  • Only Draw with Apple Pencil: OFF
  • Scribble: ON
• Tap “Enter text (Pen / Keyboard)” in the lower menu. A new window will open.
• Select who is entering the text: Me or Partner.
• The language for Me or Partner will be shown.
• Write in the white area with Apple Pencil, then tap Add.
• The text will be displayed on the screen and translated according to the selected translation mode.

5) Voice output

• Tap the speaker icon in the lower-screen menu to read the translated text aloud.

Q6. Automatic translation does not work the first time

A6. The first time, the required language data must be downloaded and prepared. Please translate once using the manual translation button. From the second time onward, automatic translation will work.

Q7. What is the difference between the eraser and the trash button?

A7.

• Eraser: Erases line drawings.
• Trash: Deletes all lines and text.

Q8. Can I enlarge, reduce, or move the displayed text?

A8.

• You can enlarge or reduce the text with a two-finger pinch in / pinch out gesture.
• You can move the text position by dragging with one finger.

When moving text, tap the eraser first to make it less likely that lines will be drawn by mistake.

Q9. Can I change the text size and line thickness?

A9. Yes. Move the slider at the bottom of the screen left or right to change the text size. Tap the slider bar to switch to line thickness adjustment.

Q10. Do I have to agree to the Terms of Use?

A10. Yes. If you do not agree, the app will not function.

Q11. Can I use the app offline?

A11. Yes, you can. However, when you use the translation feature for the first time, the required language data must be downloaded, so an internet connection is needed only at that time.

Q12. Why do lines appear when I try to pinch or move text?

A12. This app allows line drawing with a finger. Because of this, the moment you first touch the screen may be recognized as drawing, and a line may appear.

When you want to enlarge or reduce the text with a pinch gesture, or move the text position, tap the eraser icon first. This makes it less likely that lines will be drawn and helps you resize or move text more smoothly.

Q13. The lines are hard to see

A13. Depending on iPad display settings such as Smart Invert, Classic Invert, or high contrast, lines may become hard to see. Please turn those settings off and try again.

Location: Settings → Accessibility → Display & Text Size → Invert / Contrast settings

Q14. How can I see conversation text that has scrolled off the screen?

A14. Place two fingers on the screen and swipe to view conversation text that has disappeared from the visible area.