They also supervise other stenographers, typists, and clerical workers. Technical stenographers must know the medical, legal, engineering, or scientific terminology used in a particular profession. Court reporters record all statements made in an official proceeding, usually using a stenotype machine. They take down all statements and present their record as the official transcript. Because there is only one person creating an official transcript, accuracy is vitally important.
Some reporters still dictate notes on magnetic tapes that a typist can transcribe later.
Others transcribe their own notes, or give them to note readers, persons skilled in reading back shorthand notes. Still others record the proceedings in the U.S. Congress, in State and local governing bodies, and in government agencies at all levels. Most court reporters use stenotype machines that print shorthand symbols on paper and record them on computer disks. The disks are then loaded into a computer that translates and displays the symbols in English. This is called computer-aided transcription.