Microsoft is rolling out a new feature for Microsoft Teams, giving users the ability to enable Real-Time Text (RTT).

RTT is an important technology that displays typed text as it is being typed, as opposed to traditional chat methods that only display text once it is “sent.” While RTT is used in a variety of settings and applications, one of its most common uses is in accessibility applications.

Microsoft has revealed in a Microsoft 365 Roadmap post that RTT is coming to Teams.

Real-Time Text (RTT) lets participants type in the meeting while others’ speech is transcribed in real time. Whether for accessibility reasons or simply a preference to chime in via text, RTT ensures seamless, instant communication for everyone. It enables effective collaboration for all users, including those who prefer typing over speaking, and can be especially useful in situations where speaking is difficult or not possible.

The feature addition is a welcome improvement for many users, both those that need accessibility features, as well as those who simply want a faster, more natural texting method.