Stenotype

The Maschinenstenografie is a shorthand is used in the writing instrument as a Stenografiermaschine ( stenographer ). Because - like playing a chord on a piano - press multiple keys at the same time, it is also called " chord typewriter".

Use

The Stenografiermaschine is structured so that, if necessary with one finger, two keys are struck. By simultaneously pressing multiple keys, at least one syllable be reproduced. The letters, which are not present on the keypad are represented by letter combinations.

Most stenography machines produce an unintelligible to the layman shorthand, a tip strip, which reported the same combination of typed characters on each line. However, already exists since 1886 and stenography machines that print directly the phonetic value of the syllables entered instead of shorthand. Although the result is not the correct spelling, but can be also of laymen with some getting read.

Since the advent of the personal computer of the typed content goes directly to the transmission in the computer. The Italian Parliament, which uses since 1880 stenography was in 2003 patented a development that uses the MIDI standard for the transmission of data from the keyboard to the PC. Using a special software for word recognition data directly in plain text translated (CAT = Computer -aided transcription, computer-aided transcription). In Germany it is called the WORAC system (Word Accord system).

Applications

• Stenography machines are examples of parliaments used where speeches are transcribed directly. The Maschinenstenografie offers another special use possibility, namely the closed captioning of speech-based programs on television in real time, the so-called "live captioning " so that the hearing impaired can follow live broadcasts.
• The computer-assisted Maschinenstenografie also finds application as a live transcript for hearing impaired people. This writes the computer stenographer, as Scripture interpreting the spoken word simultaneously with. For the hearing-impaired read along and immediately follow the event / conversation without loss of information.

Technical Development

The first Stenografiermaschine was probably invented in 1827. Built in 1863 and the Italian professor Antonio Michela - Zucco a Stenografiermaschine that printed on strips of paper and from December 1880 was used in the Italian Parliament. The machine used 20 keys and types, several of which had to be depressed at the same time to produce a syllable. When you release the buttons, the paper was moved to the width of a character. The speeches published in a peculiar and simplified notation were, but after some practice easy to read.

In the decades after 1880 numerous Stenographiermaschinen were applied for a patent, which is also printed on strips of paper, so the American system Steno Typer by JF Hardy and the space used for holding congresses Stenodactyle the Frenchman Lafaurie.

The invented around 1890 in France Steno Telegraph should connect the machine shorthand with telegraphy. He was the first electro-mechanical stenographer.

Open Source solutions with standard hardware

While the cost of "professional" Stenographiemaschinen lying together with the corresponding software in the mid- four figures, there are attempts to make the performance possibilities of Maschinenstenographie (300 words per minute ) with standard hardware and free programs to a wider user group accessible.