Speed Text

[Michelle]

Has anyone here come across Speedtext "reporters"? We were in discussions with one of the national universities here in Ireland about providing CART to all their departments, but now we've been told they are using Speedtext reporters instead. Apparently, they're just fast typists who go to the lectures and take down the notes they feel are appropriate!!!

[Lindsay]

At my university, they have something called Typewell where they just omit the vowels of a word and the software fills it in. If they have a conflict, there is a key they hit to get the right word, like our R-R (or whatever you strike in your theory).

It is pretty good. It is nowhere as good or fast as we are (even a beginner like myself), but I have seen them and they can probably go at 100 wpm. They train them during the summer and teach them to use the software. These programs sound similar. Their dictionaries are also very, very good and require little maitenance.

Here is a website to check out:
http://www.typewell.com/

And a website where Typewell has replaced CART providers:
http://www.gazettetimes.com/articles/2004/11/02/news/community/tuel...

An interesting conversation:

http://www.alldeaf.com/deaf-education/48691-typewell-vs-cart-other-...

[Michelle]

Wow Lindsay, thanks for all that information, I'm definitely going to check further into it.

[Lindsay]

Sure.

I have been looking at that website - alldeaf.com. As CART providers, we should be more proactive on that website in turning students "to the light."

[Michelle]

Lindsay I'm also looking at that website right now, though I'm definitely going to bed soon it's after 3am here!!! I think you're right, we do need to have a higher visibility on the deaf websites, we need to get the knowledge out there, to let people know the services we offer.

[Dana Serrano]

Apparently Speedtext was developed in Scotland. Here in America we have something that would be, I guess, equivalent to that which is called TypeWell. TypeWell typists, of course, are paid less than a CART provider which is why the universities choose to use them instead of CART providers. At least, that is my understanding. Not that any of that helped you out at all.

[Michelle]

Thanks for the response Dana, I didn't know Speedtext was developed in Scotland! We live and learn :)