My Red LightSpeed

My Red LightSpeed

November 20, 2007

Long time, no post

Well, it's been a while since I posted anything. The reason is because there just isn't much to say! I'm still loving the writer; using it exclusively. I don't even hook up my Cybra any longer. I will still keep it for my backup, though.

By the way, anyone want to buy a Stentura 8000 and a ProCAT Flash? They were my backup writers and now they're just collecting dust.

On the excitement side, I am the beta tester for LiveLink, the software from Stenovations that refreshes changes from digitalCAT (like Bridge/Eclipse). It is the second "toy" in three months, and I'm having so much fun! Judge is a little miffed because I changed from CaseView to Bridge (and she had to learn new ways of going online and offline), and now I change over to this, which has a new way of going online and offline. But she'll adapt! She's very excited when I make a change on my computer and it changes it on hers. woo-hoo!

November 5, 2007

My dream LightSpeed case

Here's what I think the case for the LightSpeed should be.

Picture a metal case with either a hinge or a removable top (like an Altoids tin, only LightSpeed size). Then on the inside there would be cushioning, and a little between the top of the LightSpeed and the top so that the keys wouldn't be smashed. It would be sturdy enough so that if you had it next to a computer in a case or something on top of it, it would protect the top of the writer. There could be a little spot for the usb cable and/or charger. Maybe even a little carrying handle on top, but I'm not too sure about that.

November 2, 2007

Sound Sync Static

My sound sync had been having static whenever I was using my LS. Very disappointing.

So I told Johnny about it. He sent me a new USB cord, one with a little wire loop around the cylinder thingy on it. Works like a charm! No more static in my sound sync. Makes Greta very happy.

October 25, 2007

Protect your LightSpeed



This is a neoprene carrying case for a 13 inch Apple MacBook, but jut the right size for your Lightspeed.


It is:
Soft, durable and water-resistant Neoprene protects and cushions your laptop
Small enough to fit inside your regular carrying case, but tough enough to use by itself
Stylish design combines form and function to create a unique laptop carrying solution
Heavy-duty nylon strap
Full-size external pocket for AC adapter, files, CDs and other accessories
Lifetime Warranty

October 23, 2007

Using keypads to increase accuracy

If you are having trouble with the cracks between the keys and not hitting them properly, you can use keypads to "relocate" the edge of your key. For instance, if the asterisk key is too far away from the FR for you, place the keypads a little bit over the edge of the key. That will put the edges together and make it easier to stroke them together.

By the way, if you are having trouble with the software update, re-load the version that came with your writer.

The LightSpeed future

Johnny Jackson has a vision for how the LightSpeed will be in the future. It will be A LOT different than it is now. If you own a LightSpeed now, you probably feel a little like a beta tester. It's exciting, but just a little frustrating when you can't get it just right!

Anyhow, here are a couple of changes that will be implemented in the writer. These are Johnny's comments that I edited out of the first person.

Stenovations is having a proof-of-concept model made that has the STPH FPLT keys as well as SKWR RBGS keys made of two keys. In other words, the T and K keys would be composed of two keys apiece. Johnny believes two small keys will make a more accurate stroke when you hit the crack by virtue of the smaller keys tilting more easily.

Try and see how the number keys tilt more readily on your unit; that is how the keys will operate.

Johnny is having the programmer write a utility that will let the reporter have more control over the "crack" combinations.

Now you can set the threshold for the sensors near the crack. People are setting that very low so they will make sure to get the "crack" stroke but as a result it is too sensitive and they accidentally touch it between strokes.

Johnny is having the programmers provide another approach where you have a setting for the TK, PW, HR, FR, PB key combinations.

You will have a setting where if you hit the T and it reaches threshold and the K goes so far but does not reach threshold that it will still register. You will be able to set the percentage that the key has to register when hit in combination with the key above or below it that has reached threshold.

The top of your finger is more rigid and the bottom soft and that sometimes prevents the bottom key reaching treshold, inasmuch as most of the pressure is focused on the top key.

So if we can tell the program the threshold we set for the sensor near the crack is only applicable when the key above it or below it reaches its threshold and otherwise it has to reach the threshold of the sensor near the middle of the key, Johnny thinks that will improve accuracy.

October 17, 2007

Check your settings

Apparently the new software build will change some settings in your dashboard. So if you're having problems with the writer not responding, go to your settings and turn off the sleep timer. Also, check your sensitivity settings and make sure that something didn't get changed inadvertently. (Thank you, Brenda, for the enlightenment!)

I also have the first two anti-stacking options turned off.

I have been having trouble since I applied and removed my keypads. I think I wasn't careful enough. :( I have been having trouble with the strokes not releasing and piling up on top of each other. That didn't start until my little keypad experience. SO BE CAREFUL WITH THOSE THINGS!!!!

Now my writer needs to warm up or something. When I start a new session, two strokes will translate, then it sort of freezes. Then I keep on tap, tap, tapping, and suddenly the strokes will start translating again. Hmmmmmm....

October 16, 2007

.07 tran rate!!!

I reached a milestone today -- .07 tran rate for my morning docket. Woo-hoo!!!! My afternoon docket was 1.4, but I still am proud of that.

After I took put on and took off the keypads, now I have a new problem. My writer gets "stuck" on some strokes. It has only happened twice today, but I will write a word, then the next word shows on the stroke monitor and won't go away. So I just kept tapping on keys, and it eventually started writing again. It took about 15 seconds. Good thing for sound sync! I don't know, but I think I may have caused a problem with my keypad removal. I'm going to look into it more tomorrow.

October 15, 2007

!@#$% keypads

I'm having absolutely NO luck with the keypads. I ordered some leather keypads from Pengad. I don't like the real squishy pads, so these are nice and flat. They don't fit the asterisk key (it's too wide) or the DZ keys. And for the number "buttons" I was going to cut up the number bar strip.

Well, I got all the letters' keypads on. It was not pretty. When I stroked something, the letters "stuck" on, then the next stroke would stick on top of the last stroke, but they would stay registered, like I was holding them down and not coming up. It was awful. I have my sensitivity set just right, and I didn't want to start over with that to accommodate the keypads. So off came the keypads. And they came off very easily. I put them on my Cybra.

So no keypads for me. I will work on putting something like a raised dot on some keys to be able to feel that I'm in the right position.

October 9, 2007

Tidbits

Hint for Eclipse users:
**Thanks to Wanda Buckner for figuring this out!!!

To set up a blank stroke like I described in the last post, in your definition use: {NULL}

digitalCAT users just leave your entire dictionary entry box blank. You will get a pop-up box that asks you if you want to make a blank entry. Answer yes.

If anyone on the other software has special instructions for the blank stroke, please let us know!

October 5, 2007

Word from the top

I had a long talk with Johnny Jackson today, and I got so much information! I'm going to outline what I learned here, and I'll add some of it to the website later.

Under the Anti Stacking Options:
Unclick Solution 1, Stroke Termination Timer.
You can click or unclick Solution 2, Stroke ends.... Johnny says that it can't hurt to have it on. I'm turning it off, and then maybe I'll play with it later. Its purpose is pretty complicated, and I certainly can't explain it here!
Click Plurals and Participles. This one is terrific. It corrects stacking created when the G, S, D and Z are stroked and then another stroke is commenced before those letters are fully released (straight from the manual!)
Click Punctuation. I didn't take good notes when Johnny was explaining this one. It has to do with mistroked punctuation and Q and A banks.

Now go to Configuration:
You can leave sleep timeout clicked if it is working for you. If you have it set for, say, 2 seconds, if you rest your fingers on the keys for 2 seconds or longer, it will not register a stroke. But that doesn't help you for the little quick rests that result in extra, unwanted strokes. So find a resting position you like. Johnny uses SKWR-RBGS. That is a stroke for me, so I have to think of something else. Now enter that stroke in your dictionary as NOTHING. I mean just leave the entry blank. Now when that stroke is registered, nothing will happen (except for maybe your sound sync will record if you have it set to unpause when you write.)

In the new software update that came out, the stroke monitor is LOTS better. It was annoying to me before so I turned it off. Johnny told me that it was improved, so I turned it on. It is cool now, and I'm keeping it on.

October 1, 2007

Software update

I received a LightSpeed software update last week and installed it on Friday. It has a few changes. One of them is that the writer starts when you open the writer software. Before you had to click on Start. That makes sense, because if you're opening the sofware, you're starting the writer anyhow. I haven't looked through all of the changes yet.

Today I forgot my laptop at home (duh!) and had to use an old, old laptop I have. I couldn't load LightSpeed on it because it's got Windows 98. (I told you it was OLD!) So I wrote with my Cybra. I swear I have to push the keys down forever. At lunch I ran home and got my laptop and switched back to it and the LightSpeed for the afternoon. I'm proud to say I had a 1.0 tran rate. Lowest ever with the LightSpeed!!! It was also a short proceeding. If it had been longer, I'm sure my rate would be higher.

I'm still getting extra strokes in my notes, especially the final P and the initial W. It's overall pretty good.

September 24, 2007

Not a bad Monday!

I'm getting braver. I didn't hook up both my writers today -- just the LightSpeed. I ended up with a 1.6 untran rate, which is improved over my 2.0 average. I'm still having trouble with numbers, but I chalk that up to my trying the advanced number buttons first, trying to re-learn how to write 5's and 0's, then switching back to the Classic number bar.

I had an awful problem and my software shut down. I learned a digitalCAT lesson. I have an extra sound file and an extra steno notes file going to my thumb drive. I haven't deleted anything from it for a couple of months. Apparently, it exceeded the space on the drive. When it did, it shut down digitalCAT. So lesson to digitalCAT users: clear off your thumb drive every so often if you're using it to make extra sound file copies!!!

But it was okay. I just kept writing, turned off the extra backup and started a new file (all without stopping the proceedings!!!) Back up in about five minutes, sending RT to the judge. Then I retranslated the notes from the SD card in the writer, which was really simple. I'm not sure if my sound file will sync up, though, or if that corrupted it. I haven't checked on that.

September 21, 2007

August 21, 2007

August 21 is the day I got my LightSpeed. I started a web page which was my blog, but I've moved over here for blogging. Click on the link above to visit my LightSpeed webpage. It will have pictures and concentrate on instructions. This blog will reflect my experiences with the writer.