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Meeting the needs both of mobile and
stationary dictation users, Olympus
has announced its first smartphone
app, a new cloud-based delivery
service and a new generation of wired
dictation microphones.
The Olympus Dictation Smartphone
Application enables users of iOS and
Android devices to record dictation in
the established DSS format, which allows
a high level of encryption and very
small files.
In addition, it provides users with
some of the sophisticated functionality
offered by dedicated dictation
machines such as the ability to define
worktypes for dictation, set priorities
for individual recordings and edit files,
for example by inserting sections into
recordings.
Even so, Olympus is promoting
the app as a useful back-up for users
who are out of reach of a dedicated
dictation device rather than as a bona
fide alternative to a recorder like the
Olympus DS-7000, which has a powerful
Olympus recently launched its NoteCorder DP-311
as an easy-to-use entry-level product to familiarise
users of analogue recording devices with the
benefits of digital technology.
The product itself is beautifully simple. Made from
white plastic, with light grey panels on the side, it is
small and light enough to carry in a jacket or trouser
pocket. I carried mine in the bottom of my computer
bag which caused some scuffing to the pristine finish.
Even so, I would recommend white as a modern
alternative to black, grey or silver finishes.
Simplicity extends to operation. Below the screen
there are three large, clearly marked colour-coded
buttons for Play/OK, Stop and Record and two smaller
button for rewind and fast forward. Recordings can
be paused by pressing the record button again.
This arrangement is fool-proof and arguably more
immediately accessible than the thumb slides favoured
by experienced dictation users.
Another nice feature is the small
wheel on the side with different
settings for recording dictation, loud
sounds or conversations. Also on the
sides are controls for power, volume,
noise cancellation, playback speed, erase
and menu. All are clearly marked and can
be operated one-handed. On top, there is a
microphone, two ports for an external microphone and
earplugs and a slot for an SD card. A flip-down panel
on the back provides a built-in stand – useful when
recording conversations.
Recording functionality is pretty basic: after all, it is
marketed as a voice recorder rather than a professional
dictation machine. You can start, stop and pause
recordings, but you can’t insert content into the middle
of a file. Files are stored in the internal memory or on
a removable SD card. They can also be copied to an SD
card, which provides a way of transferring notes to a
PC for management and archiving.
Much of what the Olympus DP-311 NoteCorder
does you could also do on a smartphone. However,
there is much to be said for having a dedicated
recording device and, given the choice, I would
always elect to use a DP-311 for recording meetings
and interviews rather than the voice recorder on a
smartphone.
On the broader point of whether the DP-311 will
make converts of tape-based dictation users, all I can
say is that it has made a convert of me. From now on,
I will be using this
instead of a tape-
based recorder
or notebook
and pen.
www.olympus.
co.uk/voice
microphone and ergonomic slide-switch
operation.
The Olympus Dictation Smartphone
Application works with the new cloud-
based Olympus Dictation Delivery
Service (ODDS), which provides central
management of dictation made on
smartphones. Once a dictation is
complete, the user simply uploads it
and ODDS will transfer it to the correct
typist within
an organisation
securely via
HTTPS and SFTP.
No dictation is
stored in the
cloud.
Dictation
Dictation everywhere
Olympus launches its first dictation app and new microphone brand
Administrators can pre-define
settings for security, recording format
and worktypes and define workflows for
individual users e.g. whether dictations
should be sent by email or FTP.
Also new from Olympus is the RecMic
series of stationary dictation devices,
which replaces the existing DirectRec
brand. The new models boast features
that will be familiar to DirectRec users,
including a fully customisable user
interface and maximum 6-Dragon
rating for speech recognition accuracy
from Nuance, manufacturer of Dragon
NaturallySpeaking.
To simplify management in large IT
departments, Olympus offers a powerful
solution for centralised administration
and configuration of RecMic devices.
The RecMic Administration Centre
enables IT administrators to pre-define
and, if desired, lock the configuration of
all RecMic devices and make changes
to single or multiple devices via the
administrator console.
www.olympus.co.uk/odds
www.olympus.co.uk/recmic
Review:
Pure and simple