Digital Dictation ... "Take this down Mrs Jones" |
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Page 2 of 2 What Equipment Do I Need?All you need is a Digital Recorder. These hand-held devices also go by the name “Voice Recorders” or “Pocket Memos” and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You can get Key Fob memos and other novelty formats, but for business you need a device that’s been designed for the job.Sound quality is important: your Transcriber needs to understand what you are saying. You can get cheap recorders from as little as £25, but it’s worth paying more to get a better quality one. The most popular makes are Olympus, Sony and Phillips, but there are others. I would suggest getting a simple one to start with (i.e. as few buttons as possible). Top of the range models have a wonderful array of features and capabilities, but they can be complex and fiddly to use. If you are not sure what to buy, or need one for a short period only – for a project or assignment – then your Transcriber may be able rent you a digital recorder with the option of buying it. This is a great way to test drive equipment and see how you get on with dictation. Which Transcription Service?There are lots transcription services around, but what’s right for you depends on what you need. If you want cheap, then you could try the Far East and India. Don’t expect any frills or consistency, and the quality may be variable, but it is cheap. America can be cheaper than the UK and benefits from the time difference, so you can have typing done whilst you sleep, and the quality is good too.If you are looking for a more personal service then you need to look closer to home. You may prefer your Transcriber get to know you and your business, so they understand the context for your work and can interpret your notes. You may want them to undertake a broader range of instructions and tasks, for example, sending our finished letters, formatting your report, or making appointments for interviews. A UK based service might cost a few pounds more, but you’ll get exactly what you need. If you are going off-shore, then language, culture and data security are all important considerations, especially if your information is personal or of a sensitive nature. All EU states have equivalent protection to the UK’s Data Protection Act 1998 – there are no such laws in the US or the Far East and their attitudes to confidentiality may not be comparable either. You need to assess this risk. Finally, the technology options vary too. Some services are 100% online – uploading & downloading files via a website, paying per transcription online with a credit card and no personal contact. You’ll need to decide what’s acceptable compared with using email and paying monthly on invoice. About The Author Denis Pelych is a professional Management Consultant specialising in e-business technology and practice. He spent many years with IBM Consulting Group and went on to establish The National B2B Centre at Warwick University. He is now a Director of Viretec Consulting and Virtual HQ Solutions,and both businesses help people to exploit IT and the internet to the full.<< More Articles |
