Some people think about transcription a lot while for others the thought doesn’t even cross their minds. Either way, you’re okay. While transcription can be described as the process of converting speech to text messages, others find it “counter-intuitive”.
My Reading List
- American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), Managing the Transcription Revolution: Industry Forces Shape Future of Field.
- The Transcription Certification Institute, The Future of Medical, Legal & General Transcription: Jobs Outlook.
This is because the current society depends on visual and audio types of media and therefore don’t see the need to change anything.
Importance of transcription
One of the important benefits of transcription is that it helps in clarifying spoken words and helps create a written version of the visual files. It also:
Eliminates language barriers
Different people speak different languages in different parts of the world. Even those who speak a common language have different accents that make it harder to understand them. Transcription eradicated such problems and language barriers by creating a more understandable version of what’s said. It removes any “distractions” that are present in a verbal message such as the ones created by long pauses or unclear pronunciations. This leads to a more clear and accurate representation of the message that was being passed across ensuring it reaches the audience as intended.
Image Credit: Pixabay
Helps in translations
In most cases hearing a foreign language is confusing. This is not enhanced if the person speaking doesn’t pronounce the words clearly. A message can easily get lost to someone with no experience in dealing with such situations. Transcription ensures that doesn’t happen by presenting such messages in a simple manner. For instance, if someone expresses themselves in a foreign language that usually has longer words and sentences, transcription can remove the extra unimportant words and give you a simpler form of that same message. This, in turn, enhances your understanding and builds a better relationship between people of different origins.
Enhances accessibility
While communication is considered very crucial in building and maintaining relationships within societies, sometimes it can be hindered especially when there are people with a disability involved. Some of the disability may be in the form of visual impairment while others may be in the form of audio impairment. This means that in order to have good communication, the information must be converted into a readable format. Transcription takes care of both situations easily.
It helps businesses, educational institutions and even government entities communicate effectively with people with disabilities and helps them achieve their goals.
Improves clarity
There’s always a chance of information getting lost even when the most eloquent speaker speaks. Transcription removes this problem by ensuring that the speaker’s message reaches the audience as intended thereby improving interactions between different people.
Most institutions in various sectors depend on transcription to relate well with their clients. Customer services, the legal sector as and the medical sector all benefit immensely from transcription. Transcription has also helped scientific researchers and educational entities which shows that it has a wide range of impact.
The future of transcription
While it may seem like a simple task, the future of transcription seems to be more interesting, to say the least.
Researchers at MIT have developed a transcription device that can transcribe things people don’t say. The device has artificial intelligence that converts signals from someone’s jaw and faces into audible text. The AI contains electrodes that pick up the signals.
This advancement will help those who cannot speak and is still undergoing modifications to maximize its potential.
Conclusion
Technology hasn’t reduced the demand for transcription; it has increased it. Transcription is very important for simplifying the message being transferred in video or audio form. Transcription is also critical in translation by helping to get rid of any verbal debris. Transcription is making communication easier and more user-friendly.
A question I’ve thought about for a while is how those of us in this line of work can remain relevant, and essential, in the face of technological advances. Top of mind for me is automated speech recognition, although there could be other innovations that impact, or enhance the work that we do.
I think it’s vital to research and use technology that helps us work more efficiently and effectively, not run from it. It’s small-minded and shortsighted to think like a buggy whip manufacturer trying to protect the horse-drawn carriage industry.
In a larger sense, it’s critical to think about how we can better meet the communication needs of the people and businesses we serve. Transcription is about more than typing and always has been. Thanks for your time and consideration!
Hi Anne, Well said and I know what you mean. Technology special AI is advancing us in many areas and it is a chance for us to enhance our job or daily life. Thanks for your notes