The rise of new technologies and advanced solutions is slowly changing the way we usually do things. While many of the practices we do have been taken over by these changes, one thing that seems to remain is court reporting. Court reporter Boca Raton remains a very strong profession to this day despite the challenges it faces with regards to rising technology.
What is court reporting? Simply put, court reporter Boca Raton is in the process wherein a person translates court proceedings and turns them into a written document. This is a crucial part of the legal process as it creates a solid document of the statements and virtually anything said during a court hearing.
Aside from this, court reporting gives everyone access to the legal proceedings, regardless of their status. By this, we are referring to the deaf or those hard-of-hearing as without a written transcript, it would be harder for them to follow the legal proceedings due to their condition. Still, despite its importance, there’s no arguing that a threat lies in wait for the profession.
The output of these court reporters is important. One way these transcriptions are used is whenever a witness or an attorney contests something that was stated before. Judges often turn to court reporters for reference in such cases, giving them a chance to fully get a grasp of what has happened.
Again, the main goal of court reporting is to give everyone a fair chance at the legal system. Without it, it would be harder for people to contest any discrepancies or false statements said in court.
What’s The Threat To Court Reporter Boca Raton?
It’s now easy to keep a record of legal proceedings. For starters, a lot of courts use video cameras to record the entire process. This gives them a means to look back at the case to find discrepancies or if there are things to contest. However, this isn’t the biggest threat to court reporting for now.
The biggest threats to it are voice recorders – more specifically, voice-to-text software and voice recognition software. These two advancements are capable of turning any speech into written text, thus affecting the purpose of court reporter Boca Raton. Should court reporters begin to fear for their careers?
The truth is that while these technologies are great, nothing beats the skills of court reporters inside the courtroom. We are talking about speed and accuracy here. This is one of the rare cases wherein it’s apparent that man is capable of beating machines. We’re all aware of how voice assistants like Siri and Google Assistant make laughable text when you speak.
Humans are capable of translating text-to-speech in real-time given that they have enough practice. As such, the profession of court reporting remains very strong to this day.
Aside from this technology, there’s nothing else that’s trying to give court reporting a run for its money. If there are others, then we’re sure that those really lag behind the practice.
How Do Court Reporters Keep Up?
The short answer is that they keep up through hard work and dedication. While short, that answer remains true as court reporting does require a lot of practice. Have you tried transcribing a person’s words in real-time? It would be nearly impossible to do so on a regular keyboard or computer.
As such, court reporters use a special machine called a stenotype. This machine isn’t like any standard computer or keyboard. Instead of having the entire alphabet placed on the keys, there are only a few ones to choose from. The simplest way to describe how stenotypes work is by thinking of it as a form of shorthand writing.
Basically, court reporters will type in a few texts which will then turn into full words. This is how they are able to keep up with the conversation during court hearings. If it sounds complex, that’s because it is. Court reporting is no easy task and it requires a lot of practice to master the stenotype.
Court reporters dedicated years of their lives to practicing with the stenotype. Even those who are esteemed professionals will still try to practice every once in a while. In this field, there’s no such thing as enough. Accuracy and speed are crucial factors that they try to improve on again and again.
The stenotype is a crucial piece of tech in the courtroom. It’s far more important than any camera, voice recorder, or smartphone being used there. In the hands of an experienced court reporter, a stenotype can do major wonders with regards to transcribing conversations.
Going back to voice-to-text software, you’ll often see these make errors. What’s worse is that these software don’t go back and correct their mistakes. However, court reporters can easily delete their errors and catch up to the conversation.
Is It Worth It Being A Court Reporter?
Being a court reporter pays a competitive salary. Experienced Florida court reporters get a huge paycheck on top of what they benefit from the job. You have to consider that this job falls under the government sector as you are within the justice system. There are tons of benefits that come with the job having said that.
Aside from this, it will also be great to work in the justice system. Think about it, you are there to give everyone a fair shot at the justice system. Not only does being a court reporter fulfill your financial needs, it also fulfills your duty to your countrymen. This is one of the many reasons why a lot of court reporters dedicate their lives to the job.
A court reporter Boca Raton will be here to stay for decades to come. While technology is still rapidly evolving, there’s no questioning the value of the human workforce. Court reporters are always going to be an essential part of the legal justice system – just as important as attorneys and judges. It will not be a dying profession; it might even become stronger as stenotype technology improves.