Technology Archives - Omega Reporting

Top Ten Gadgets for the Holidays 2016 for Court Reporters

December 15, 2016 By Lynette Mueller Leave a Comment

The holidays are upon us! Gift giving can be stressful sometimes for your favorite court reporter or legal professional. Luckily, I have my top picks you can choose from to ease the burden of coming up with a great gift for that favorite person on your list. It’s just a click away!

Automatic Pro Connected Car Adapter: This handy gadget has realtime location data about who’s driving your car. I’ve been using this device since late fall and am absolutely loving it! I am using an app called IFTTT to automatically generate a Google spreadsheet to keep track of my work miles. No more mileage logs for me where I have to handwrite all the data. This adapter plugs into almost any car to provide unlimited monitoring with zero fees. You may even connect your car to your Echo, your smart thermostat, or any other part of your digital life. This product works only in the United States.
Tile: Quickly find items that you seem to always misplace with Tile. I have given these as gifts before, and they’ve been a huge hit! Can’t find your car keys? Not sure where you placed your phone? Or what if my equipment gets stolen? Quickly find your lost items using Tile’s Bluetooth tracking device. If your Tile is within the 100-foot Bluetooth range, it will play a loud tune until you find it. Keep the app running in the background, and Tile will automatically remember the last time and place you last had your item so you know where to start looking. Tile is available for both Android and Apple devices! I currently have the Tile Mate. Since last year, they now have the Tile Slim. The Slim is as thin as two credit cards. Easy to stick, slide, or tuck into tight spots like wallets, purses, passports, and more.
Kenu Airframe+ Car Mount for Smartphones: This little gadget is great for mounting in your car when using your GPS app. It can be mounted in the car so it’s stationary. Never worry about glancing down at your phone and being distracted again.
Square: Start accepting credit card payments today! A free credit card reader will be sent to you when you sign up with Square for use on iPhones, iPads, and Android. The account setup process is quick and easy. As mentioned above, as an independent court reporter, I do work in the courtroom. There are occasions when an attorney has forgotten to hire a court reporter and then approaches me to ask if I can cover his matter as well. In the instance where an attorney is not known to you and you are unsure of the payment history, Square comes to the rescue. You have the ability to swipe their credit card on the spot for the attendance fee and never have to worry if you will be paid later.
DYMO LabelWriter: This labeler is my all-time favorite gadget. Just upload your company logo, add your contact information, and print a professional-looking label for every transcript that heads out the door. My labeler is connected to a dedicated computer. But I have no worries about keeping my contacts up to date, because I utilize Apple’s iCloud. When I effect a change or update in my address book on one computer, it then syncs on all computers, so my contacts are always up to date and available no matter which computer or device I happen to be using. I also have created a customized exhibit sticker with my logo. No more worrying about ordering exhibit stickers because I create them on-the go. The product features of the DYMO labeler are many:
- Create and print address, shipping, file, folder and barcode labels
- Print USPS approved DYMO Stamps postage directly from your desktop – no monthly fee, contracts, or commitments required
- Uses thermal printing technology — no expensive ink or toner needed
TUDIA Klips: Without protection from wear and tear, many experience the inconvenience of having their charging cable break in less than six months of use. Once broken, it is not long until the cable is no longer capable of recharging. TUDIA Klip works to stop strain, before wires become exposed and the cable stops working. Rather than buying a new cable, the Klip allows you to preserve your original Apple Lightning or 30-pin cable. The Klip snaps on to your charging cable in seconds. This device keeps your cable functioning longer and helping yo, stay connected, and fully charged.
Sugru: If you already have a cable that’s frayed, use Sugru. Sugru sticks permanently to lots of stuff like ceramics, glass, metal, wood, and most plastics and fabrics. Just push it onto something, then it’s time to build, seal, fix, create, and stick things together. You’ll have 30 minutes to get the job done. Give it 24 hours, and Sugru turns into a durable, flexible silicone rubber that stays stuck (unless you remove it).
TimePorter for Apple Watch: TimePorter for Apple Watch was gifted to me by my sweet husband last year. This is both a case and a stand. TimePorter holds your charging cable, an extra Watch band, your USB charger, and more in a silicone-lined case. Pop your charging disc into the integrated opening in TimePorter and drape Apple Watch across the top to charge. With Apple Watch resting on TimePorter, open the case to the preferred angle and TimePorter transforms into a viewing stand, perfect for viewing notifications and the time. This is awesome! I actually can store several watch bands in this handy case.
Rocketbook: This device was recommended to me by a great court reporter colleague. The Rocketbook Wave provides the freedom of a traditional pen and paper notebook, while instantly blasting your notes into the cloud using your smartphone. Image processing: In an instant, the Rocketbook app crops and enhances each page so your digital notes are more crisp and vibrant than the real thing. Send your notes to specific locations in the cloud services you already use. My favorites are Evernote, box, and Dropbox. When you use Pilot FriXion pens with the notebook, you can erase your notes using your microwave oven and reuse your notebook.
Pilot FriXion Gel Pens: Use these pens with your Rocketbook. Writes smooth, erases clean for a “mistake-free” writing experience. This is perfect for making drafts, edits, lists and notes.

There you have it — my Top Ten Gadgets for the Holidays 2016. Happy gifting! Oh, and don’t forget to pick up a little something for yourself while you’re shopping. You can click on the image below to start shopping now.

Happy Holidays!

Get Realtime-Capable Now: Tips for Learning Brief Forms for Court Reporters

August 29, 2016 By Lynette Mueller Leave a Comment

Being realtime-capable should be the goal of every court reporter now! My realtime goal is to always strive for 99.8% translation rate on every job. The prep work is essential to maintain or exceed that goal. My writing is constantly evolving (even after 30 years of reporting). Writing short is paramount to the success of my translation rate, for keeping up with the fast talkers, and also being kind to my body — specifically my back and hands.

The JCR has an article in the October 2015 issue with lots of great tips from some amazing court reporters across the country on how to get flawless realtime output. Definitely worth the read!

Today on the blog I’m going to focus on brief forms. Creating briefs on the fly is an acquired skill, for sure. My BriefIt feature in my CAT software is an integral and valuable resource and helps immeasurably with my high translation rate, even though the proceedings could be a fast-paced deposition. It takes focus and dedication to be able to look at the screen during the proceedings and capture those suggested briefs. During a recess is a good time to take a few minutes to go over the suggested briefs. With my software, the phrases I stroke out the most (with a suggested brief) are highlighted in a bolded color. Genius! Therefore, it’s easy to concentrate on the strongest colors and make a note of the suggestions.

So one may ask, “Okay, how do I memorize and keep track of all the brief forms I want to add to my dictionary?”

Our minds have great capacity to recall all kinds of information. I feel it’s good to have a multi-prong approach to memorizing brief forms. Remember to take a handful of briefs at a time to incorporate into your writing; otherwise, you’ll be overwhelmed and could end up dropping important testimony.

Here are a few suggestions to help with that memorization:

Be sure you want to improve your realtime writing and are invested in the process.
Set a goal for yourself.
Write out the brief forms you wish to incorporate into your writing.
Make notes to yourself.
Apply repetition to your practice. As I said, make sure you start with small bits before moving on to the next round of briefs. Keep this in your memory banks before moving on to the next set.
Do most of your studying in the afternoons. One study suggests your ability to memorize relates to the time of day you study, with the afternoon appearing to be the best time of day.
Ensure you are well rested in order to retain the memories. Make sure you take breaks and come back to it later in order to find out how much you actually retained. Then you can focus on the briefs you might have more trouble with.

Next are the steps I’ve implemented that have greatly improved my ability to incorporate new briefs into my writing.

Use BriefIt all the time during the job and add the briefs that make sense to your personal dictionary. Dictionary building is key to the success of a higher translation rate.
Make sticky notes and attach to your writer or computer.
Use the app, Sticky Notes. This is a great tool to use because you’ll never lose that physical note again. Simply open the app and move it to the side of your laptop screen. Multiple colors are available for families of briefs!
I like to use my Recorder app on my iPhone to dictate the briefs I want to work on. By recording the words and phrases, it is an easy task to set up my writer to practice on those briefs. You will get instant feedback if you are writing the briefs correctly when you are hooked up for realtime during your practice session.
The last prong of my process is a cool app called Tinycards. This is a free flashcard app to help make memorization more fun! This app is a game where you can unlock new levels and keeping your memory strength bar full! Tinycards uses spaced repetition and other smart learning techniques to help you master new material efficiently. You can create your own decks and share them with friends or pick from a variety of collections exclusive to Tinycards. You’ll find constellations, country capitals, history, and lots more.

I’ve already created two Tinycards called Steno Brief Forms – Part 1 and Steno Brief Forms – Part 2. When you set up your new (free) account, simply search for these and any other topics to add to your stream and start memorizing those briefs today!

Technology is great!

Episode I: Realtime Readiness

January 9, 2016 By Lynette Mueller Leave a Comment

It is a period of ever-changing technology! Court reporters, in the courtroom and deposition setting, are winning with tools and gadgets to help them work smarter and provide their important clients with the technology to assist them in their cases.

Okay, I’m a technology/gadgets geek – I admit it. So excited that the new Star Wars film opened this past December!

Here are some awesome quotes from the Star Wars series that are totally relatable to court reporters using gadgets and technology to help them provide great realtime output for their clients.

The first quote is from Yoda, that wise master: “Do. Or do not. There is no try.”

“Do” embrace the realtime technology. Use it to be more productive and provide your clients with a service that they crave for. If you “do not,” they may look to other reporters or other technology.

Some reasons that have been cited for “do not” include:

writing is not good enough
do not want anyone to see my mistakes
hookups are intimidating
overlapping voices can be distracting
no control over the environment

Here are some ways to overcome those fears and hesitancy and be more confident to “do.”

improve by practice — write at least 15 minutes a day
analyze your writing and keep a journal
build your dictionary
keep current with technology
offer realtime to a client you are comfortable with
let your software work for you
relax and breathe
stay positive

“In my experience there is no such thing as luck.” ~ Obi-Wan Kenobi

In order to be realtime-proficient and keep your feed topnotch, all reporters should practice for speed and accuracy on a regular basis. Practicing and speedbuilding takes time and hard work (it’s not just luck), but the benefits are enormous! In addition, be prepared for each and every job, whether it’s realtime or not, and there will be less editing time at the computer later.

Some things to do prior to each job include:

create a job dictionary with brief forms, if possible, for all attorneys, participants, proper names, witnesses, case-specific terminology, and technical words
practice new briefs prior to the job
create a “cheat” sheet for the briefs during the job as a reminder

“In a dark place we find ourselves, and a little more knowledge lights our way.” ~ Yoda

As I said previously, we need to educate ourselves as much as possible about the case-specific terminology for a realtime session and add brief forms to our dictionary in order to have our feed be topnotch! Our CAT software can help us too. I love my BriefIt on my Case Catalyst software. During a recent fast-paced deposition, this brief form saved my butt: AO*EUK (independent contractor). Embrace and learn more about your specific CAT software and let it do some of the heavy lifting.

“It’s a trap!” ~Admiral Ackbar

Don’t get caught off guard. Be prepared for every realtime job by bringing your cables, power cords, router, iPads, netbooks, et cetera. This past month, I was scheduled for a daily copy trial in a rural town several miles from my home base that required me to stay overnight. In addition to my Luminex, laptop, and realtime software, I also packed up a mobile office of sorts. Included were things such as the following:

extra writer
extra laptop with CAT software loaded
iPads
netbooks
router for realtime feed (just in case they changed their mind)
portable scanner
Dymo labeler for exhibit stickers
office supplies (stapler, paperclips, binder clips, etc.)

“May the Force be with you!”

So, that’s my wrap-up for Star Wars quotes.

Remember that Luke was not a youngling when he learned the Jedi ways. Reporters do not need to be younglings, either, to provide realtime. I am always striving to pick up better ways to write and tips and tricks from my colleagues (even after 30 years in this amazing profession). My colleagues are a valuable resource for me. All one needs to take that leap into realtime is the belief in yourself and your abilities, a strong desire, hard work, and the focus to get there.

Hope everyone had an awesome time seeing Star Wars: The Force Awakens. And, oh . . . “May the Force (a/k/a/ realtime) be with you!”

Lynette L. Mueller, CRR, RDR, FAPR

The opinions expressed are my own and I receive no compensation for any of the products or services mentioned in this blog post.

New Feature of Dropbox

July 7, 2015 By Lynette Mueller Leave a Comment

Dropbox is an amazing productivity tool for court reporters! I’ve written about some of the best features in previous blog posts: How to install Dropbox on your new computer, transcript order forms utilizing Dropbox, upgrading a new PC and using Dropbox, top productivity gadgets, and more . . .

Do you ever feel you receive too many attachments in one email and realize you forgot to save one?
Sometimes a colleague is trying to email an attachment and the file size is too large.
Need that audio file from your videographer?
That out-of-state client wants to send multiple exhibits and is sending them in email batches.
Want to gather photos from a convention or seminar from your friends and colleagues?
Working on a project or newsletter for your state court reporter association?

Dropbox has added a new feature called File Requests. With File Requests, gathering photos, docs, and more from several colleagues is simpler than ever. Just send out a link to let others upload files directly into your Dropbox folder. There’s no need to rely on a collaborator to have Dropbox installed on their computer. With File Requests, people who upload files to your personal Dropbox will never have access to your account and only you can view uploaded files by others, unless you decide to share with them.

I’ve been using this feature for a few weeks now with a fellow reporter in my firm and find it’s an absolutely easy way to be more productive and save time for both of us. It’s easy to start collecting documents now with File Request. Click here for more information on how you can get started today.

Of course, as always, the beauty of Dropbox is that you can access all your files across multiple devices!

Technology is Great!

My New Favorite Scanning App for Court Reporters — Scannable

February 17, 2015 By Lynette Mueller Leave a Comment

My new favorite scanning app for court reporters is Scannable by Evernote! The ease and intuitiveness of this app is amazing. I already use Evernote to keep track of my digitized world. With this new app, scanning is even faster and easier.

My smartphone is my number-one gadget that I take with me to every job. With so many app options available, it essentially means that I can leave the bulkier gadgets back at the office for the more heavy-duty production tasks.

Here is a list of some of the uses for scanning during a deposition or hearing:

The attorneys are retaining the exhibits and you need to check a quote on one of the docs.
A physical exhibit may be marked that cannot be attached to the transcript. Simply take a pic of the object, print the PDF scan, and slap an exhibit sticker on it.
A witness may be reading and quoting from a text and not marked as an exhibit. So during a break, ask to take a quick snap of the quoted text.
One of the participants in the deposition ran out of cards. Simply scan their contact information from a pleading.
Oftentimes an attorney might have only one business card left and doesn’t want to let it go. Ask him if you can scan his card and return it to him within seconds.
Business cards should always be scanned. I scan the cards at the time of the job. This one little step ensures that their contact information will never be lost in a drawer or at the bottom of your handbag.

The advantages of Scannable:

Faster to scan. Simply place the doc on a contrasting background and point the app at the document and it will auto-capture it. No more tweaking the edges or color.
Within the app, you may sign in to your Evernote and LinkedIn accounts. This means that once a business card is scanned, it takes that information and adds in details from that person’s LinkedIn profile, including a picture. If you’re like me, having a face attached to a name is an excellent memory tool.
Once the business card is scanned, you may also save it directly to your Contacts. My Contacts are synched across all my devices. What that means is that once it’s saved to my smartphone, I can go to my computer or iPad and have access to email addresses there, too. The information is entered once automatically, so I don’t ever have to type in the information on multiple devices.
You can also send or save documents and meeting notes from within the app: email, Evernote, Photos, text message, and more.
The app does give each scanned image the name Scannable Document. Edit the scanned document within the app and give it a name that you will remember later.