While technological advances are being made in many arenas, decreasing or eliminating the need for a human workforce, court reporters can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that there is career longevity and safety. There is still an ongoing debate of man versus machine when it comes to recording court proceedings and depositions, but time and time again the court reporter wins out over a piece of technology.
Traditional court reporting (a court reporter and a steno machine) allows for the ability to ask for clarification when statements are unclear or mumbled. We can filter out white noise that may distract from a deposition. What is heard, or misheard, in court proceedings can directly affect the outcome of a case. Verbatim records are as necessary as the judge who presides over the case.
Realtime court reporting, an advancement in recent years, allows all parties access to a rough transcript as a deposition or hearing is happening. As we record a deposition in shorthand, a computer transcribes and produces a transcript that allows lawyers to follow along. This immediate transcript is much easier to review than an audio recording.
What we can expect as court reporters is to adapt to new technology. Somewhere in the man- versus-machine argument is a happy compromise of court reporters utilizing advancements in technology to benefit the industry. Just as we are no longer taking out quill pens and inkwells to record testimony, we cannot expect that in 10 years steno machines and the assistance of technology will have stayed stagnant.
If you have questions about what we do as court reporters, the services we offer, or how you can utilize Susan Frye Court Reporting, please reach out to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
