Cloud based dictation
Olympus Smartphone App
Editor’s Choice:
Business Info
What we liked:
• cloud based delivery
• high level of encryption and
small files
• iOS and Android
• sophiticated functionality
offered by dedicated dictation
machines
• Administration management
– 01732 759725
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
microphone and ergonomic slide-switch
operation.
The Olympus Dictation Smartphone
Application works with the new
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.
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.
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.
Review:
Pure and simple
25
Editor’s Choice Awards
