  This narrative review on emotional expression in Speech-to-Text (STT)
interfaces with Virtual Reality (VR) aims to identify advancements,
limitations, and research gaps in incorporating emotional expression into
transcribed text generated by STT systems. Using a rigorous search strategy,
relevant articles published between 2020 and 2024 are extracted and categorized
into themes such as communication enhancement technologies, innovations in
captioning, emotion recognition in AR and VR, and empathic machines. The
findings reveal the evolution of tools and techniques to meet the needs of
individuals with hearing impairments, showcasing innovations in live
transcription, closed captioning, AR, VR, and emotion recognition technologies.
Despite improvements in accessibility, the absence of emotional nuance in
transcribed text remains a significant communication challenge. The study
underscores the urgency for innovations in STT technology to capture emotional
expressions. The research discusses integrating emotional expression into text
through strategies like animated text captions, emojilization tools, and models
associating emotions with animation properties. Extending these efforts into AR
and VR environments opens new possibilities for immersive and emotionally
resonant experiences, especially in educational contexts. The study also
explores empathic applications in healthcare, education, and human-robot
interactions, highlighting the potential for personalized and effective
interactions. The multidisciplinary nature of the literature underscores the
potential for collaborative and interdisciplinary research.
