Time was when deposition transcripts took weeks to deliver and those involved in the discovery process had to rely on note taking to capture day-to-day case development. Now members of the legal community are driving demand for reliable deposition records -- right at their finger tips, right before their eyes and right away.

Today highly skilled reporters armed with sophisticated computer-aided technologies are linking legal professionals to courtrooms, deposition rooms and other sites around the corner and around the globe. It's reporting in realtime, and it ranks as a genuine value-added component in legal proceedings from discovery to done.

Realtime is just in time

At the core of the computerized deposition room is a scalable technology that allows realtime reporters to convert stenographic notes into readable draft text. That means:
? Depositions and other oral proceedings appear almost instantaneously on individual computer monitors or large format screens

? Those in the deposition room and beyond can monitor, annotate and organize the text as it's created

? Fully edited final copies of transcripts have same-day availability for disc or authorized online distribution

Realtime melds the power of sight and sound

Team realtime-generated text with digitally synchronized video and you've created a compelling tool to spark case preparation:

? Multiple parties in different locations can participate in a deposition or hearing via secure Internet links ? a significant savings in time and travel expense.

? The video and text record can be searched by keyword in seconds

? Text/video files can be easily exported to play back in court

Realtime expands collaboration, research capabilities

In evolution and in complex legal proceedings, the race is often to the swift. Tapping realtime capabilities means moving faster and more efficiently to mine testimony and depositions for specific information and references:

? Powerful search engine software can scan multiple documents and highlight key words, phrases and other data to speed the discovery process

? Realtime-generated text can be organized according to issue or reference, eliminating hours of staff time.

? Transcripts, depositions, exhibits and videos can be compressed and bundled into manageable, on-line accessible discs to be shared and searched by all members of a legal team

Realtime levels the field for hearing impaired

The same technology that delivers live captioning for television is being used in courtrooms and deposition rooms today to allow hearing impaired individuals to participate fully in legal proceedings. Many have registered a preference for realtime text over interpretation of testimony through sign language.