The tools we use

The technology

We have been using CAT (Premier Power) since 1994 and VAT (Dragon Dictate, then Naturally Speaking) since 1995. By December 2002 we had moved to Eclipse for CAT and Naturally Speaking version 6 for VAT.
Digital audio operates in both chambers, and we use a playback system called LPlayer.
In November 2002 we upgraded to IBM Netvista PCs running Windows XP and MS Office XP.
Editorial staff use Microsoft Word as a desktop publishing system to produce camera ready copy. Printing is outsourced.

Who uses what?

All permanent reporters are stenotype writers: 9 use CAT, 1 uses VAT.

Of our sessional reporters, 2 are stenotype writers and use VAT; and 9 use VAT or the keyboard to transcribe directly from the digital audio.

The 2 sessional audio monitors control the digital audio system in the Legislative Council, spending approximately 30 minutes at a time in the chamber. The system in the lower house is monitored by Legislative Assembly staff.