When it comes to court reporting, how important is it to have a person there instead of tech? Some people may think with the advancement in technology, fields such as court reporting may be having a tough time competing when it comes to people doing the jobs over robots or 
computers and author tech. But is that the actual case?
Court reporting may be enhanced or even complemented by technology, but can it replace a real court reporter?
Court reporting is when a person or some type of technology records what is happening in a legal setting, usually a deposition or a court room hearing. While tech has come about in the last few decades that can mimic the job of a reporter, can it really provide services that match the need for accurate transcriptions?
It may seem that automated tech is more a part of our lives now than ever. We see it as the grocery store, or hear an automated voice thanking us as we leave the bank for using their ATM services. But does voice recording technology and more have the potential to replace human reporters? The answer is most likely no.
Here is why…
Human confidentiality.
You can’t hack a human, although a reporter could mess up and confide in others the details of cases that they are working. However, the far and away majority of reporters that work in court have a good understanding of what is required of them and that includes the oath they have taken to keep all of the information that they type or hear confidential.
When it comes to tech that records voices, there is always an additional risk that the transcript contents may be brought to light. With more people handling this transcript than with just a reporter, it adds more risk to the privacy of each case. Storage digitally may also be an issue.
People don’t have glitches.
One of the benefits of using people for court reporting and not machines is that they don’t get glitches. Machines and tech can backfire and break, but a human being is unlikely to do so unless they get a cold, and even then they can call out sick. Also, any machine that breaks will cost money to fix and may slow down everything.
They can comprehend the situation and ask for clarity when needed.
People are able to comprehend what’s going on, tell who is speaking, and ask for clarification on something if they need to. This ability to work within the present moment and prevent error before it happens is something you’d be hard-pressed to find with current tech. They also prepare for a deposition and will have terms such as medical terms down pat before the process even begins.
Transcript availability.
They’ll be able to provide an immediate availability when it comes to the transcript, no matter what format is required.
Does court reporting require people to do it? For the time being, YES! Human reporters are not going to be replaced any time soon. They are too useful and skilled at working in their field to imagine otherwise.