Why Technology Will Never Replace The Court Reporter

Over the last fifty years or more, many jobs have been taken away and people have been replaced with computers. Whether you are a court reporter or currently enlist the services of reporters, the one thing you will never have to fear is having the job taken over by technology. The fact is that this is a job that only a human can do right and no computer could ever provide a better service to the legal system. The following are three of the main reasons that you will never have to worry:

First and foremost, the court reporter is more cost efficient. While there are certain software programs that will record the spoken word, there are none that can transcribe as fast as the human. Exceptional reporters can transcribe as many as 250 words per minute. Furthermore, they are accurate. A computer program could not be conditioned to every dialect and would make many errors when transcribing the words of an individual with a strong accent.

Second, in many legal proceedings, it is ordered that certain words are to be stricken from the record. A computer, as it is not fast, would only get that much further behind. While human error can still be made, they have a great capacity for listening to instructions and following them. Good listening skills are a must for reporters and this is something that simply can not be taught to a computer, as there are so many variables at play.

Last, legal proceedings can not be interrupted due to faulty equipment. If there was a problem, court proceedings would need to be interrupted. If equipment could not be repaired quickly, it could cost thousands of dollars. What it all boils down to is the fact that humans are actually more reliable when it comes to getting this job done and you never have to worry about them breaking down in the middle of a courtroom. Replacing or repairing equipment could be a cost that far exceeds what it costs to pay someone for the services needed.

While many people have been replaced by computers and automated systems, the job of a court reporter is safe. The fact is that no computer could ever do this job more effectively or efficiently as a human. The job of reporters in the legal system may be a little overwhelming at times, but the one thing they never have to do is fear that their job will be taken over by the technology offered today.