The predominant reporting method in use is machine shorthand, using computer-aided transcription. Machine shorthand allows the reporter to utilise the latest in information technology, including realtime reporting.

Realtime reporting is discussed on the Court reporting page. It is predominantly used in court reporting and other reporting settings where almost instantaneous translation is required.

MACHINE shorthand reporting

Machine shorthand reporters write in a phonetic language called steno. Using the stenotype keyboard’s 22 keys and a number bar (see shorthand machine to right), reporters learn unique combinations of letters to represent sounds or phonemes. The left hand writes the beginning sound of a word or syllable of a multisyllabic word, the thumbs write the vowel sounds, and the right hand writes the final sound of a word or syllable. The keyboard is chordal, therefore multiple keys are pressed at the same time, much like playing chords on a piano.

The steno outlines appear on a paper tape which threads through the machine; they are also captured in electronic form on a floppy disk. During a break in the proceedings, or a changeover in reporters, or at the adjournment, the data on the floppy disk is transferred to a computer which is loaded with a purpose-built reporters’ program, known in the industry as CAT – computer-aided transcription. The computer reads the shorthand on to the hard disk, then translates it into English by matching the steno outlines with their English equivalent in the reporter’s dictionary. The reporter then edits the text file, invokes a spell-checking function, prints the hard copy and, if necessary, creates an ASCII, WordPerfect or Word file on disk for use in other computer programs.

Links

See the Links page for reporting-specific links.

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