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45th Intersteno Congress - MULTI-MEDIA AND �VERBATIM� REPORTING by Umberto P. Lenzi� - 26 July
2005 |
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Slide 1Congress |
(Music: Fanfare �Eagle�s
Flight� by James Curnow) |
Slide 2Subject |
(Begin at the end of the music of Slide
2) Ladies
and Gentlemen WELCOME AND THANK YOU for your interest in this presentation. First of all, it is my
pleasure to convey a most thankful tribute of recognition, to the Board of
Directors of INTERSTENO, to the Organizers and Facilitators of this Congress,
and to the Civic Authorities of Vienna. The vision, dedication, and hard work of all these
people, has brought us together, in this wonderful city; they certainly
deserve, our most generous applause! (Applause) |
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Slide 3 IBM PC |
Computerized Transcription was born in the �70s.
But it was in the early �80s, with the introduction of affordable Personal
Computers, that the production of �verbatim� transcripts, using computers,
became really practical, for the average reporter and stenographer. |
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Slide 4 CAT WP Chart |
Computer Aided Transcription became an integral
part of the Court Reporter�s office. In those days, the available WORD
PROCESSING software, were actually less sophisticated than the CAT systems. |
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Slide 5 Efficiency of CAT |
Computer Aided Transcription became an integral
part of the Court Reporter�s office. In those days, the available WORD
PROCESSING software, were actually less sophisticated than the CAT
systems.� Spell checkers added even
more efficiency, and Keyword indexing, became an indispensable tool, for
attorneys and paralegals. But there were challenges. The first generation
of steno typing theories, were created for reporters, who would dictate their
notes, and then give it to a typist. Such theories, created in the shadow of
pen shorthand methodologies, were somewhat rudimental, especially in the area
of homophony or �sound a like� words. |
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Slide 6 Database of Conflicts |
A significant progress, in CAT technology, was
the application of Artificial Intelligence to the phonetic system, especially
in languages rich of phonetic conflicts.�
Even in languages like English, where there are only a few dozens
homophones, it became obvious, that such improvement was needed. In 1987,
yours truly created PARC �Progressive Automatic Resolution of Conflicts� for
the AdvoCAT software. See History at www.telitor.com.
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Slide 7 French Text with conflicts |
PARC has matured, and it has been copied and
imitated by all CAT manufacturers. Even today, it is the most effective
method for resolving �phonetic conflicts�, in languages like French, where
pronunciation and spelling, present a significant linguistic challenge. |
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Slide 8 Windows & Graphics |
In the �90s, technology boomed, and because of
the affordability of Personal Computers, Word Processing reached everywhere
across the planet. Sophisticated Word Processing software, not only
caught up with the CAT systems, but greatly surpassed them, in adapting to
the widely diverse languages of the world. Satisfying the requirements of pictographic,
non-alphabetic, and right-to-left writings, posed many challenges. |
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Slide 9 WORD With various languages |
The most significant step, to overcome that
challenge, was the introduction of graphics. The industry moved from the very
narrow 256 characters based operating systems to the 32 bit processors and
the graphics based presentation. Major industry leaders developed MULTI-LAYERED
WORD PROCESSORS, rich in graphical fonts, and capable of incorporating
images, animation, and hyperlinks.� The
Software Industry rapidly moved from ASCII to RTF and eventually to large
sets of standard characters, like UNICODE. Today keyboards have almost replaced the ART of
CALLIGRAPHY. Our hand-written notes and letters, will soon be, museum items. Computerized
WORD PROCESSING is used not only for business, but also in the daily life of
every person. |
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Slide 10 QWERTY CAT Commands |
Most CAT systems though, remained anchored, in
the ALPHABETICAL QWERTY based, technologies. They feature their own proprietary
and customized EDITORS. So, conventional CAT systems, with rare
exceptions, are forced to EXPORT THEIR TEXT into other software, in order to
make the documents available in the Multi-Media environment. |
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Slide 11 CAT WP Adaptability Chart |
It is interesting to examine the chart on the
Efficiency and Adaptability of WORD PROCESSORS versus C.A.T systems. As you
can see, in the �90s, with the expansion of Word Processing into the
international arena, the Traditional CAT systems, have become inadequate for
use outside of the ROMANCE FAMILY of languages; All Modern Word Processing
Packages, on the other hand, have adapted to almost every existing WRITTEN
FORM of expression. WORD processing software have even conquered
handwriting recognition, with outstanding versatility and power; Vis-�-vis
INK technology and tablet PC. |
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Slide 12 Adaptability of Phonetic keyboards |
This chart gives some indication about the
potential of the phonetic keyboards. It is obvious that the conventional
QWERTY keyboards are inadequate when used for non-alphabetical languages.
Whereas the phonetic keyboards, remain flexible and ADAPTABLE TO ANY HUMAN
IDIOM, REGARDLESS OF ITS WRITTEN FORM. � |
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Slide 13 New Keyboards |
Various
practical, efficient, and affordable phonetic keyboards have been developed.
The missing element, though, is a new generation of SOFTWARE systems that
would utilize the power of the phonetic keyboards, by integrating them with
the most popular International Word Processors. TELITOR IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT
STEP FORWARD, IN THIS DIRECTION. |
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Slide 14 Captioning |
With the integration of a phonetic keyboard to
the highly sophisticated word processors of today, a steno typist, can
produce an almost perfect document, in any language, at the speed of the
speaking person. A clear example, of this application, is
CAPTIONING; where the steno typist can keep up with the TV NEWSCASTERS,
usually speaking at more than 200 words per minute. Another challenging, but very rewarding
application, is MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION. |
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We will now
view another important advancement in the field of transcription: The
introduction of audio synchronization (Audio Sync). This
technology allows the reporter to edit and proof the document, while
listening to the digitized audio, perfectly synchronized to the text; thus
greatly enhancing and accelerating productivity and accuracy. |
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Slide 15 TeLiTor Audio-Sync |
(Run TeLiTor�s Audio Playback) Where are we today, with the technology for
�verbatim� reporting? Will the use of Multi-Media, especially voice
recognition, replace the reporters? No,
Multi-Media will not eliminate Written Communication, Books, Magazines,
Newspapers, etc. And most definitely, not replace, written court documents.
It will rather make them more effective. |
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Slide 16 Transcript with Picture |
The value of a visual presentation versus the
bare verbal exposition is obvious even by the introduction of a simple
picture. MULTI-MEDIA presentations are extremely valuable
in business and have been proven to be of enormous impact also in the
judicial, and legislative processes. Here are some examples of MULTI-MEDIA practical
use: Pictures of Exhibits, Animation of Accidents and Events, Audio Tapes,
Video Depositions, Video Conferences, Video of a Crime, Video of a Lecture or
Expert testimony, etc. But no Judge, Attorney, or any Professional,
would be satisfied with just Pictures or Video, they all want some kind of a
written document. Even a family Album of Pictures, is much more
meaningful, if accompanied by some names, dates, and notes. |
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Slide 17 Types of Video-Sync |
We will now examine the latest
MULTI-MEDIA addition to Transcription: VIDEO-SYNCHRONIZATION. Until now, there were 3 types of
synchronization: �
Manual
synchronization �
Time-stamp synchronization �
Voice Text (also known as Text Mining)
Note
that, with all these 3 methods, the text must be in ASCII; therefore, the
adaptability to other languages, is practically impossible. Manual synchronization An operator listens to the audio and
manually hits the spacebar at every line of text. With this method a 6 hours
deposition will require 6 hours of synchronization. Time-stamp synchronization This method is quite efficient and
requires only minimal operator�s intervention. Voice recognition The user loads the MPEG VIDEO FILE and
the ASCII TEXT into the system. This program uses the so-called �Voice Mining
Technology� to synchronize VOICE to TEXT, by recognizing words and
patterns.� The software, the equipment,
and the personnel, required for this method, are expensive; but the
synchronization is accurate. In summary, the existing products for Video
Synchronization, are quite complex, expensive, and restricted to ASCII. |
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Slide 18 TeliSync Static |
TeliSync, a sub-product of TeLiTor,
because of its total integration with Popular Word Processors, has made Video
Synchronization truly EASY, AFFORDABLE, AND INTERNATIONAL. As you can see on the screen, we are looking at a
transcript directly generated, edited, and proofed in WORD. There is no need
to export or import, no need of other software or expensive equipment.
Everything is integrated and self‑contained. We designed and programmed some special COM
(Component Object Models) similar to the commonly known ActiveX. The module and its functions are accessible in a
user TOOLBAR, visible at the bottom of WORD. This is a seamless integration of PHONETIC TRANSCRIPTION
and MULTI-MEDIA.� |
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Slide 19 Movie clip TeliSync Random Playback |
Let�s now view some real, live examples, of this
integration. (Movie TeliSync Video Playback) (LIVE COMMENTS ON RANDOM PLAYBACK OF
SEGMENTS) As you have seen, anyone, even marginally
familiar with WORD, can easily browse through a document and playback any
segment of the original interview. This technology is currently applied and helps
immensely in the justice system, but it could be easily extended to
educational institutions, and even into the business world. E.g. Conference
reporting. In the next clip, we will see how to select a
VIDEOTEXT passage, bookmark it, and make an entry into an INDEX. The user can
then easily play back the selections, on demand. |
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Slide 20 Movie Clip TeliSync Segments Indexing |
(Movie of TeliSync Clips Making) (LIVE COMMENTS ON: SELECTING, INDEXING,
AND PLAYING BACK OF VIDEO CLIP) Some
practical applications of Video-Sync, are: �
Video testimony, when it is
impractical or impossible to summon the witness. �
Reinforcing the arguments
during a trial. �
Filing �briefs� or attorney�s
statements. �
Archiving important judicial,
educational, and research material. These are just some examples of what the
integration of Transcription and MULTI-MEDIA can do for the professional
steno typist. We should ride the wave of the technology, rather than trailing
it. The REPORTER needs to stay up‑to‑date and be in control �
this will ultimately result in: �
More
useful products to your clients �
A
better career �
More
income �
And
great personal satisfaction. Conclusion: The technically savvy stenographer has a brilliant future. I now salute you all, Intersteno Champions and
Participants, and leave you with the musical theme �Eagle�s Flight�. Thank you. |
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Last Slide Open Session |
(An Open Session, for questions and
answers, will follow?) NOTE: This
presentation will be available at www.telitor.com
Q & A |