From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Realtime transcription is the general term for transcription by court reporters using Computer Aided Transcription ("CAT") technology to deliver text to computer screens within a few seconds of the words being spoken. Specialist software allows participants in court hearings or depositions to make notes in the text and highlight portions for future reference.

Typically, realtime writers can produce text using stenograph machines at the rate of at least 200 words per minute. Stenographers can typically type up to 300 words per minute for short periods of time, but most cannot sustain such a speed.

Realtime transcription is also used in the broadcasting environment where it is more commonly termed "captioning."

Realtime reporting is used in a variety of industries, including entertainment, television, the Internet, and law.

Specific careers include the following:

• Judicial reporters - use a stenotype to provide instant transcripts on computer screens as a trial or deposition occurs.

• Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART) reporters — assist the hearing-impaired by translating spoken words into text, giving them personal access to the communications they need on a day-to-day basis.

• Television broadcast captioners — use realtime reporting technology to allow hard-of-hearing or deaf people to see what is being said on live television broadcasts such as news, emergency broadcasts, sporting events, awards shows, and other programs.

• Internet information (or Webcast) reporters — provide realtime reporting of sales meetings, press conferences, and other events, while simultaneously transmitting the transcripts to computers world-wide.

• Other rapid data entry positions.

• National Court Reporters Association (stenotype)
• National Verbatim Reporters Association (speech recognition)
• CourtReportingHelp.com, a student resource center
• Court Reporting Office Management and web-based transcript repository software (court reporting firm software)
• Free court reporting firm technology and marketing newsletter and tips (court reporting newsletters)
• Court reporting firm deposition repository for 24 x 7 access to office schedule, court reporter jobs and turnin, and attorney schedule and file transfer (deposition transcript repository)
• Realtime Reporting at Drexel University (The Philadelphia region's only realtime reporting certificate program)
• U.S. Department of Labor Info on Court Reporting/Realtime Reporting