Choosing between TypeWell and CART services
When trying to find the right speech-to-text accommodation for real-time communication access, there are two leading contenders: verbatim services like CART (Computer Aided Real-time Translation) and a meaning-for-meaning service like TypeWell. In many situations, like courtroom proceedings or broadcast television, having a strictly verbatim record of what was said is necessary. However, for users who need to quickly digest the speaker’s message, reading along is easier when a transcriber is actively translating the speech from spoken English to clear written English, much like an ASL interpreter would.
In addition to transcribing the spoken word, a TypeWell Transcriber also includes relevant non-verbal context cues to the reader. It is not standard practice for CART providers to relay the speaker’s intonation, sarcasm, body language, or other non-verbal cues, which can lead to an incomplete and sometimes inaccurate message. TypeWell transcription also removes false starts, stutters, or filler words such as “um” or “like” that can cause a verbatim transcript to appear cluttered and hard to understand in real-time.
Therefore, it is particularly important to know the differences between TypeWell and CART services when selecting the right accommodation. Where CART can be considered a word-for-word iteration, TypeWell provides a meaning-for-meaning translation. We would like to discuss our TypeWell services further to show how they are preferable in an educational setting for students who identify as D/deaf or hard of hearing.
Few people naturally speak as well as they would write. More often than not, speakers meander between topics and present information tangentially instead of linearly. False starts are used when a speaker suddenly decides to discuss a different topic, filler words replace gaps when a speaker thinks of what to say next, and often, sentences are spoken with unclear grammar or syntax. These common occurrences in speech are not particularly troublesome if you’re a hearing person and can filter out the junk, but it can make for very unclear text when written verbatim.
TypeWell resolves this problem with a meaning-for-meaning translation that communicates the intended information without compromising content. Information isn’t lost or left out in meaning-for-meaning transcription; it’s interpreted. For this reason, TypeWell is often preferred over verbatim services in the educational setting, as the student is presented with the information in a clear and concise manner for optimal understanding.
Choose TypeWell for Your Transcription Services
We would love to provide you with a 2-hour free trial to show how TypeWell services have helped thousands of students across the country find success in their educational pursuits. To schedule your demo or to reach out with questions, we welcome you to write us here.
Intellitext’s TypeWell Services are a federally approved and accepted speech-to-text accommodation for students who are D/deaf or hard of hearing. TypeWell can also be used for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) students, students with learning disabilities, brain injuries, or English as a second language (ESL) speakers. In the IDEA 2004 Revision, Congress specifically named TypeWell as a transcription service that meets the definition of interpreting services and should be considered an effective tool to meet the communication needs of students with disabilities.
