Transcription involves converting verbal information into written form, including in legal, medical, and deaf communication fields. Accuracy and speed are important, and specialized vocabulary and training may be required. Technology has replaced some human transcriptionists in closed captioning.
Transcription work generally involves transferring verbal information into written form, although the term transcription is also used in the fields of music and genetics. Stenographers and court reporters directly transcribe the speech. Medical transcription is the transcription of medical records from orally typed form. Other less industry-specific varieties of transcription also use data from audio files. Transcriptionists are also employed to help the deaf with telecommunications.
Stenographers and court reporters are responsible for keeping an accurate, digitized record of legal meetings and proceedings. Transcription jobs in these areas used to rely solely on an individual’s typing speed or shorthand. Modern systems record data digitally, which is used to create a transcript and also kept on hand as an audio record, to further ensure accuracy. Proficiency in specialized transcription techniques as well as knowledge of a specialized vocabulary are generally required for these transcription jobs. Speed and accuracy are of paramount importance.
Medical transcription is a very active field which deals with transferring audio records of medical information to text. Many medical organizations prefer to collect records as audio recordings and transcribe the recordings later rather than including medical personnel type information. Working in this field requires attention to detail and a solid understanding of medical terminology to ensure accurate transcription. Most organizations have specific training standards that their transcriptionists must meet to ensure they have this proficiency.
Several transcription works facilitate access to information by the deaf. Transcriptionists are employed to provide closed captioning for television programming, although in some cases, technology has replaced human transcriptionists in this role. Speed, accuracy and language proficiency are essential for this job.
Human transcriptionists also serve as a key link in communications for the deaf. Most nations have some version of a teletype conversion exchange speech. The transcriptionists employed by these exchanges type information received orally into devices that transmit it as text to the homes or cell phones of the deaf and then speak the typed responses in the other direction. Speed and accuracy are crucial in this type of transcription work, as it is an ability to respect the privacy rights of the customers of this service.
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