The benefits of on-site captioning services

You might think we only provide remote captioning services, but we actually also provide captioning services on-site in the UK and Europe. Remote and on-site services have their pros and cons; which service will work best for you very much depends on your individual situation and preferences.

Speech-to-text reporters are stenographers or palantypists who use a shorthand machine to produce a verbatim real-time translation of what is being said, with a minimum accuracy of 98%, unlike notetaking and respeaking.

Having a captioner on-site might work better for you in some situations than having them work remotely. Here are some of the benefits of on-site captioning services provision.

• It is easier to hear what is being said if the speech-to-text reporter can see the faces of the speakers, particularly when they have an accent, are quiet speakers, or the environment is not ideal for listening. This also means it is easier for a speech-to-text reporter just to turn up and work without preparation.

• The speech-to-text-reporter can pause the meeting (with your permission) and ask people to repeat themselves for clarification. This is particularly useful when a deaf client doesn’t have the speech or confidence to do this themselves, or is unable to due to always being slightly behind everyone else when reading the live text.

• A speech-to-text reporter does not need the internet to enable the live text to be displayed. They will bring their own laptop so you can read the text from their screen. You will need to supply a comfortable chair, table, and access to a power socket.

• For events that are more than 4 hours long, you need to book two speech-to-text reporters to co-work. This means a high quality of output can be maintained for the whole day.

• Having a speech-to-text reporter in the room with you is a visual reminder that someone is working, listening and trying to take down every word that is being said. This is helpful for hearing colleagues as a visual reminder to not speak a mile a minute and to speak clearly and audibly – it’s simply good communication. I have often found myself in meetings where I or the STTR asked for a repeat, only to discover that no-one else had heard it either – yet we were the only ones who flagged this up.

• A speech-to-text reporter can plug headphones into your phone and relay your telephone calls for you.

An on-site speech-to-text reporter needs to be booked well in advance of your event, as there are so few in the UK and Europe.

Booking through us is hassle-free and gives you access to a large selection of high-quality verbatim reporters. If you think you would benefit from an on-site speech-to-text reporter, contact us.