Gone
are the days when all a court reporter needed to take to an assignment was a
steno machine and a pad of paper. Today if you see a reporter en route to
an assignment, you will see the reporter with a large case on wheels along with other
ancillary luggage, briefcases and/or back packs. Technology has its
advantages, but it also has increased the load reporters must carry to be able
to supply attorneys with the most accurate transcripts possible, sometimes on
an instantaneous basis. Demand for faster delivery has grown, especially
on high profile and time-sensitive cases, and so it is the reporter’s job to
not only keep his/her skills in top form but also to keep abreast of the latest
innovations in this progressive profession.
Computers
entered the picture in the early 1980s, and it changed the court reporting
field forever. The technology keeps evolving, and the learning curve
continues to climb. The mantra heard in all other industries rings true
with reporters as well: Embrace technology or be left behind.
Reporters
who provide realtime services to attorneys are at the top of their game, and
they have the credentials and experience to prove it. They have an
impressive ability to write long hours almost error-free on a wide variety of
topics while under incredible pressure. As if that weren’t enough, they
must be knowledgeable about their software and versed in counsel’s equipment so
that successful realtime connections can be made. Attorneys have different
types of devices – laptops, iPads, and tablets -- and there are different ways
to provide connections: serially, USB, or wirelessly. In this
digital age, the amount of information reporters need to absorb is enormous and
constantly evolving, so much so that the National Association of Court
Reporters has developed a program called TechCon to specifically connect
reporters and other professionals in the legal field to discuss current
technologies and evaluate growing trends in the marketplace.
The
next time you need a certified court reporter, call us! Our reporters
continue to invest in their skills, education, and equipment to provide the
verbatim transcripts you rely on to try your case, and staying abreast of the
latest technology is their priority. Our reporters attend national and
regional conferences to keep up with all the latest advancements. The
Society for the Technological Advancement of Reporting, or STAR, on which Linda
Fifield from this office is a board member, liaisons with software developers
who are directly responsible for the programs court reporters use nationwide to
edit and produce their transcripts.
Time
and time again research has shown that a certified court reporter bests all
other methods of capturing the spoken word. We are so proud to be a part
of this elite group that plays such a vital role in deposition and courtroom
settings.
