Transcription (service)
Encyclopedia
A transcription service is a business which converts speech (either live or recorded) into a written or electronic text document. Transcription services are often provided for business, legal, or medical purposes
. The most common type of transcription is from a spoken-language
source into text
such as a computer
file
suitable for printing as a document
such as a report. Common examples are the proceedings of a court hearing such as a criminal trial (by a court reporter
) or a physician
's recorded voice notes (medical transcription
). Some transcription businesses can send staff to events, speeches, or seminars, who then convert the spoken content into text. Some companies also accept recorded speech, either on cassette, CD, VHS, or as sound files. For a transcription service, various individuals and organisations have different rates and methods of pricing. That can be per line, per word, per minute, or per hour, which differs from individual to individual and industry to industry.
Transcription is one of the fastest growing legitimate jobs in the US. In the year 2006, around 14 million transcribers were working in the United States
and this number is expected to grow by another 3 million before 2015. Transcription work can be a good choice for people who are retired or who want to earn extra income by utilizing their free time.
Before 1970, transcription was a difficult job, as secretaries had to write down the speech as they heard it using advanced skills, like shorthand
. They also had to be at the location where the service was required. But with the introduction of tape cassettes and portable recorders in the late 1970s, the work became much easier and new possibilities emerged. Cassettes can travel through internal mail or external mail which meant for the first time, the transcriptionists could have the work brought to them in their own office which could be in a different location or business. For the first time, transcriptionist could work from home for many different businesses at their own convenience, provided they met the deadlines required by their clients.
With the advanced technology of today, people can have almost anything transcribed very rapidly. An mp3
based Dictaphone
, for example, can be used to record the sound. The recording can then be uploaded to a pc and emailed within minutes to someone who could be anywhere in the world. The transcriptionist can then replay the audio many times. The sound can also be filtered, equalised or have the tempo
adjusted when the clarity
is poor. The completed document can then be emailed back and printed out or incorporated into other documents - all within just a few hours of the original recording being made.
The industry standard for transcribing an audio file takes one hour for every 15 minutes of audio. For live usage, real-time text
transcription services are available for captioning purposes, including Remote CART, Captioned Telephone, and live closed captioning
during live broadcasts. Live transcripts are less accurate than offline transcripts, as there is no time for corrections and refinements.
There are two methods of transcription: dictation typing of correspondence and reports, and interview transcription.
Dictation typing is one person dictating and interview transcription is of two people or more.
Security is something that a company should not overlook when providing this service and it is important that companies abide by certain rules, restrictions, and legalities when engaging a transcription business.
Transcription security must abide under a the following Culture Confidentiality:
Process
Technology
Legal Measures
Medical transcription
Medical transcription, also known as MT, is an allied health profession, which deals in the process of transcription, or converting voice-recorded reports as dictated by physicians and/or other healthcare professionals, into text format.-History:...
. The most common type of transcription is from a spoken-language
Spoken language
Spoken language is a form of human communication in which words derived from a large vocabulary together with a diverse variety of names are uttered through or with the mouth. All words are made up from a limited set of vowels and consonants. The spoken words they make are stringed into...
source into text
Written language
A written language is the representation of a language by means of a writing system. Written language is an invention in that it must be taught to children, who will instinctively learn or create spoken or gestural languages....
such as a computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
file
File
File or filing may refer to:Tools:* File * Filing * Nail filePaper or computer records:* File folder, a folder for holding loose papers* Filing cabinet or file cabinet...
suitable for printing as a document
Document
The term document has multiple meanings in ordinary language and in scholarship. WordNet 3.1. lists four meanings :* document, written document, papers...
such as a report. Common examples are the proceedings of a court hearing such as a criminal trial (by a court reporter
Court reporter
A court reporter, stenotype reporter, voice writing reporter, or transcriber is a person whose occupation is to transcribe spoken or recorded speech into written form, using machine shorthand or voice writing equipment to produce official transcripts of court hearings, depositions and other...
) or a physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
's recorded voice notes (medical transcription
Medical transcription
Medical transcription, also known as MT, is an allied health profession, which deals in the process of transcription, or converting voice-recorded reports as dictated by physicians and/or other healthcare professionals, into text format.-History:...
). Some transcription businesses can send staff to events, speeches, or seminars, who then convert the spoken content into text. Some companies also accept recorded speech, either on cassette, CD, VHS, or as sound files. For a transcription service, various individuals and organisations have different rates and methods of pricing. That can be per line, per word, per minute, or per hour, which differs from individual to individual and industry to industry.
Transcription is one of the fastest growing legitimate jobs in the US. In the year 2006, around 14 million transcribers were working in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and this number is expected to grow by another 3 million before 2015. Transcription work can be a good choice for people who are retired or who want to earn extra income by utilizing their free time.
Before 1970, transcription was a difficult job, as secretaries had to write down the speech as they heard it using advanced skills, like shorthand
Shorthand
Shorthand is an abbreviated symbolic writing method that increases speed or brevity of writing as compared to a normal method of writing a language. The process of writing in shorthand is called stenography, from the Greek stenos and graphē or graphie...
. They also had to be at the location where the service was required. But with the introduction of tape cassettes and portable recorders in the late 1970s, the work became much easier and new possibilities emerged. Cassettes can travel through internal mail or external mail which meant for the first time, the transcriptionists could have the work brought to them in their own office which could be in a different location or business. For the first time, transcriptionist could work from home for many different businesses at their own convenience, provided they met the deadlines required by their clients.
With the advanced technology of today, people can have almost anything transcribed very rapidly. An mp3
MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
based Dictaphone
Dictaphone
Dictaphone was an American company, a producer of dictation machines—sound recording devices most commonly used to record speech for later playback or to be typed into print. The name "Dictaphone" is a trademark, but in some places it has also become a common way to refer to all such devices, and...
, for example, can be used to record the sound. The recording can then be uploaded to a pc and emailed within minutes to someone who could be anywhere in the world. The transcriptionist can then replay the audio many times. The sound can also be filtered, equalised or have the tempo
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
adjusted when the clarity
Clarity
Clarity may refer to:* Clarity , 2010* Clarity , 1999* Clarity * Clarity , a song by John Mayer* Honda FCX Clarity, a hydrogen fuel cell automobile* Clarity Act, Canadian bill C-20...
is poor. The completed document can then be emailed back and printed out or incorporated into other documents - all within just a few hours of the original recording being made.
The industry standard for transcribing an audio file takes one hour for every 15 minutes of audio. For live usage, real-time text
Real-time text
Real-time text is streaming text that is continuously transmitted as it is typed or otherwise composed. It allows conversational use of text, where people interactively converse with each other.-Use over instant messaging:...
transcription services are available for captioning purposes, including Remote CART, Captioned Telephone, and live closed captioning
Closed captioning
Closed captioning is the process of displaying text on a television, video screen or other visual display to provide additional or interpretive information to individuals who wish to access it...
during live broadcasts. Live transcripts are less accurate than offline transcripts, as there is no time for corrections and refinements.
There are two methods of transcription: dictation typing of correspondence and reports, and interview transcription.
Dictation typing is one person dictating and interview transcription is of two people or more.
Transcription Security
Most companies that would require a transcription service would normally be handling sensitive or official information. From business meetings, [research] interviews, job interviews, and professional recordings, all these contain sensitive data that should be transferred or transcribed to a medium that can be easily processed, in a document format, hence the transcription service industry was built.Security is something that a company should not overlook when providing this service and it is important that companies abide by certain rules, restrictions, and legalities when engaging a transcription business.
Transcription security must abide under a the following Culture Confidentiality:
Process
- people handling the transcription service must take an oath of confidentiality
- password protection (secured storage)
- files kept should have a limited storage life
Technology
- files must be securely disposed of or deleted
- secure facility
- security alerts must be implemented as protocol for abnormal access or file behaviors
Legal Measures
- All employees sign and email confidentiality/non-disclosure agreements at the start of their employment to legally bind them to protecting the confidentiality of client information.
- Agreements promise criminal litigation in cases where a violation is intentional or the result of gross negligence. Copies of this confidentiality statement are available on request.