Are You Cloud Savvy?

A Three Part Webinar Suite Presented By:  Michael Starkman & Keith Vincent


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On three Wednesday evenings, October 22nd, November 5th, and November 19th, ReporterWebinars.com will present a series dedicated to the cloud. If you keep hearing about “the cloud” and aren’t sure what it is, you’re not alone. In a recent national survey, when asked what “the cloud” is, a majority responded it’s either a “fluffy white thing,” the sky, or something related to the weather (29 percent). Despite the confusion, 95% of all the respondents were actually using cloud services at the time of the survey via online shopping, banking, social networking, and file sharing. It’s likely you are, too, so there’s no reason to be scared. The key is to learn what it can do for you, as court reporters, and the answer is a lot!

 

Reporters can securely store transcripts in the cloud, or can share them with scopists, clients, firms, or colleagues. Dropbox, iCloud, OneDrive, Google Drive, and Microsoft Office 365, among others, are all cloud services. Reporters can also deliver realtime transcript via the cloud. Bridge Mobile, for example, uses a private cloud server to provide access anywhere clients can connect to the Internet.

 

Smart phone apps enable reporters to scan business cards, or even exhibits, and store them in cloud till they need them later. Or you can use apps for keeping notes regarding the job, due dates, special requests from the attorneys, a spelling list of words that came up, and more.

 

And you can collaborate online. Google Docs, Office 365, and Eclipse allow reporters and editors to share and edit the same document online. And so on. The list is large and growing larger all the time. Join Michael, Wil, and Keith for three powerful webinars that help you understand the cloud and how to take advantage of it to help make your job easier and more efficient.

 

Part 1: Michael Starkman

Organization & Efficiency: Cloud Storage, File Synchronization, and Productivity

Wednesday, October 22nd


Cloud services give the reporter a quick and easy way to transfer and synchronize files from computer to computer, or from computers to tablets and smart phones. Dropbox is the best known of these, but there are other very good choices. Michael will review several and cover some very practical applications for these services in the reporting world. For example, a reporter can now create an ASCII or PDF file and have it appear instantly at their reporting firm for production.

 

He will then turn to services that enable the reporter to backup and store files in the cloud. Imagine the horror of a computer suddenly crashing and you don't have a backup of your main dictionary. What if you have years of notes stored and a transcript from many years ago has been requested? You have a serious problem if you can't retrieve them because your computer crashed, was damaged, or stolen. If you’ve ever worked long hours on a job, only to see your computer decide it was hungry and in the mood for a 285-page daily-copy transcript, you know the pain we’re describing.  There's no need to lose sleep worrying about these scenarios. Michael will show you how internet storage and backup systems can give you the peace of mind you need as a reporting professional.

 

Let's not forget about efficiency.  We'll look at a program that lets you add text, open files, send an email, open folders, launch programs and open websites in literally a fraction of a second, shaving countless steps off the process. You’ll enjoy major time savings.

 

Lastly, we'll cover a couple of additional programs and "apps" that help you with origination.  Find information quickly and easily when you need it instead of wasting time searching high and low for it.

 

Here's an overview of what we'll cover in Part 1:

 

Dropbox and other cloud file synching services:

 

  • Quickly and easily transfer files from one computer to the other or from a computer to a device. You won't need those flash drives anymore for data transfer.
  • Transfer audio files.
  • Transfer ASCII or PDF files to remote devices for proofreading.
  • ASCII files automatically and instantly sent to production department.
  • Agency owners can have their reporters place their completed jobs into a designated folder, helping their administrative staff stay organized.

 

Cloud Storage:

 

  • Internet backup and storage solutions: What they are, how to get them, how they can benefit you, and the basic operations of these programs.
  • Automatic and instantaneous backup of your data; now that's peace of mind!

 

Programs and Applications:

 

We'll look at three different programs and "apps" that will help you save time, increase efficiency and productivity, as well as help you get and stay organized.

 

  • One is essentially a key word or shortcut app for 80% of the tasks you do on your computer.  The program’s seven basic categories can: Substitute Text, Launch a Program, Open a Document, Navigate to an Internet Site, Send E-Mail, Open a Folder, and Script.  You can, for instance, type a few letters and put a note into your calendar, or use it to open up sites you use every day. Create a keyboard shortcut that takes you right to Google, or to open up some frequently accessed folders or frequently accessed files.  Use it to fire up an email, or to open your CAT software or other programs you use all the time.
  • The other app is for easy, simple note making your phone. Reporters can use it on the job in a variety of ways; make notes from a deposition, such as spellings, questions to ask attorneys, locations of depositions, or speaker assignments.  Use it to keep a mileage log, which we all need to keep for the IRS.  Or use it for personal things, like shopping lists, to-do lists, or reminders.
  • Speaking of note making, Michael will cover a legacy app that’s been around forever, one that’s loaded on every computer running Windows.  A lot of reporters don’t know much, if anything, about this app, and he’ll demonstrate how you can make very good use of it.

 

Part 2: Wil Wilcox

Mobile Technology, Including a Preview of Windows 10

Wednesday, November 5th


Technology is constantly evolving and changing.  Whether you are an official reporter working in the courtroom or freelancing doing depositions, adopting new technology can greatly assist you with your work.  Plus, using the available tools at your disposal can help you gain a competitive edge.  In this webinar our goal is to provide you with digital know-how, timesaving tips with the latest tech tools at our disposal.  So, spend a little time with us and let us help you get your tech on.

 

From before you leave your home for work to the time you pack up and head for home mobile technology can greatly assist you.  Google Maps GPS will let you know exactly how long it is going to take to get to work.  In addition, if traffic conditions on the way change, it will offer you a faster alternative route.  Want to see what you end destination looks like?  Google Maps provides satellite imagery, street maps, and Street View perspectives.

 

Before the legal proceedings starts that you are going to be reporting, you can take the business cards the parties hand you and make a quick photo of the card using your smartphone.  Then an app called CamScanner on your smartphone, either IOS, Android or Windows Phone, will turn that image into a PDF file and upload it into the cloud for later use.  This same app is great to make on-the-fly copies of documents you may need spellings from and is perfect for making copies of important receipts as well.  Intelligent solution for document management on all devices, starting from capturing information precisely to storing, sharing, annotating and managing documents for different purposes. It makes the contents easily-accessed, organized and the collaboration efficient.  This is in invaluable tool for your day to day needs.

 

Then when you are on the job you need an app for keeping notes regarding the job, due dates, special requests from the attorneys, a spelling list of words that came up and more.  We will show you two apps for organizing this information, Microsoft OneNote and Evernote, and help you decide which one of them is for you.  Microsoft OneNote is your go-to notebook. No need to leave out any useful ideas. Gather typed and handwritten notes, links, web pages, sketches, and videos and other media and assemble it in one handy place.  Embed files, Insert pictures, documents, videos, and more right into your notes.  Linking will allow you to enjoy the freedom to take notes your way. Be creative with Inking—smoothly draw, erase, and edit with your finger, stylus, or mouse. If you’d rather write than type, OneNote can convert your handwriting into text.  Full integration with the cloud means you can free your files from your computer’s hard drive so your notes and information are saved and searchable wherever you go — on nearly any mobile device, tablet, or browser.

 

Evernote allows you to capture information in any environment using whatever device or platform you find most convenient, and makes this information accessible and searchable at any time, from anywhere. Use Evernote to jot notes, create to-do lists, clip entire Web pages, manage passwords, and record audio. Everything added to Evernote is automatically synchronized across platforms and devices and made searchable. Evernote will even recognize printed or handwritten text in photos and images.

 

Microsoft Office is now most often purchased as a subscription service which is called Microsoft 365.  We will cover the different options available and how to decide if Microsoft Office is for you and what the free alternatives are.  For instance, signing up for a subscription plan for Microsoft Office 365 Personal for as low as $6.99 per month alone will entitle you to 1 TB of online storage space for Microsoft OneDrive and the use of Microsoft Office on 1 tablet and 1 computer.  With a $9.99 per month Microsoft Office 365 Home entitles you to have up to 5 users with 5 computers and 5 tablets and 5 TB of OneDrive storage for all of your family’s files and photos.

 

This is just a sampling of some of the topics that will be covered.

 

Part 3: Keith vincent

Bridge Mobile, Realtime in the Cloud

Wednesday, November 19th


Even as Bridge Mobile has been making its way into the Apple Apps Store, it's been evolving thanks to the suggestions of folks who have been using it for free in internet browsers on iPads, other portable devices, and computers of every sort.

 

On Nov. 19th, Keith Vincent will offer an up-to-date and comprehensive presentation of the Bridge Mobile app.  He'll show where to get it, how it's priced, how its features work, and how a client would access the transcript along with notes, marks, and issues that were inserted during realtime proceedings.  Time permitting, he'll also show how Total Eclipse 7 will be able to get input from proofreaders who have used Bridge Mobile to review a reporter's transcript.

 

Many don’t realize that Bridge Mobile is designed to work with all CAT software.  Keith will take time to explain how Connection Magic Link allows a reporter on any CAT software to access Advantage Software's "Connection Magic" system either via the internet or via a local network or WiFi router.

 

Join us on Nov. 19th for Keith's information-packed webinar on Bridge Mobile.



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