CRI Court Reporting Technology 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In realtime court reporting, what is 'tethering' in the context of connecting a steno writer to a laptop?
- Using a physical USB or serial cable to connect the steno writer directly to the CAT software laptop (Correct answer)
- Wirelessly pairing the writer to a smartphone hotspot for internet access
- Attaching the steno machine to the tripod stand
- Linking the audio feed to the steno machine's speaker output
Correct answer: Using a physical USB or serial cable to connect the steno writer directly to the CAT software laptop
Tethering refers to connecting the steno writer to the CAT laptop via a physical cable (USB or serial) so keystrokes are transmitted directly to the translation software.
Question 2: What does 'steno theory' refer to in the context of court reporting education?
- The legal theory underlying verbatim reporting requirements
- The system of rules and abbreviation principles governing how words and sounds are represented in steno strokes (Correct answer)
- The study of historical development of stenographic machines
- The technical specifications of steno machine key layouts
Correct answer: The system of rules and abbreviation principles governing how words and sounds are represented in steno strokes
Steno theory is the systematic set of rules — phonetic, semantic, and brief-form — that a reporter uses to consistently represent English words and phrases on the steno keyboard.
Question 3: Which CAT software feature automatically suggests the most probable translation when a steno outline is not found in the main dictionary?
- Autodefinition or suggest mode (Correct answer)
- Conflict resolution wizard
- Job prefix settings
- Realtime audio sync
Correct answer: Autodefinition or suggest mode
Autodefinition or suggest mode uses phonetic matching and frequency analysis to propose the most likely word for an unrecognized steno stroke.
Question 4: When a court reporter uses a Bluetooth-enabled steno writer, what is the most critical troubleshooting concern during a live proceeding?
- Battery drain on the steno writer
- Wireless interference or dropped connection causing lost steno strokes (Correct answer)
- Incompatibility with older CAT software versions
- Excessive heat generation from the Bluetooth module
Correct answer: Wireless interference or dropped connection causing lost steno strokes
Wireless interference or a dropped Bluetooth connection can cause steno strokes to be lost without warning, creating gaps in the realtime feed and the paper tape backup.
Question 5: What is the significance of the NCRA's A-to-Z Steno Machine Shorthand Dictionary in CAT software use?
- It is the mandatory dictionary all reporters must use in federal court
- It is a reference dictionary providing standardized steno outlines, often used as a base dictionary for new reporters (Correct answer)
- It automatically updates CAT software with new legal terminology
- It is the dictionary used exclusively by realtime-certified reporters
Correct answer: It is a reference dictionary providing standardized steno outlines, often used as a base dictionary for new reporters
The NCRA's A-to-Z dictionary provides a standardized set of steno outlines and is commonly used as a starting base dictionary that reporters then personalize over time.
Question 6: In a remote deposition using video conferencing, what additional technical responsibility does the court reporter typically assume?
- Hosting and managing the video conferencing platform and ensuring all parties can connect (Correct answer)
- Operating the camera to ensure all deponents are visible on screen
- Providing captioning services in multiple languages simultaneously
- Recording the video deposition to replace the written transcript
Correct answer: Hosting and managing the video conferencing platform and ensuring all parties can connect
In remote depositions, the court reporter frequently manages the video conferencing platform, admits participants, and troubleshoots connectivity issues for all parties.
Question 7: What is the purpose of a 'job prefix' or 'job suffix' in CAT software transcript formatting?
- To automatically number all exhibits in a deposition
- To add standardized header information (case name, date, reporter name) that appears on every page of the transcript (Correct answer)
- To watermark draft transcripts so they cannot be filed as final
- To append audio timestamps to every line of the transcript
Correct answer: To add standardized header information (case name, date, reporter name) that appears on every page of the transcript
Job prefixes and suffixes are template blocks containing case-specific header and footer information that CAT software automatically places on every transcript page.
CRI Court Reporting Technology 4
In realtime court reporting, what is 'tethering' in the context of connecting a steno writer to a laptop?