NCRA TechCon event draws more than 200 attendees

April 22, 2014

VIENNA, VA., April 21, 2014—The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA), the country’s leading organization representing stenographic court reporters and captioners, today announced that its 2014 TechCon conference attracted more than 200 professionals and over a dozen vendors. The event was held April 11-13 in Atlanta, Ga., and offers court reporters, legal videographers, trial presenters, and other legal professionals to interact and learn about new and emerging technology trends in the legal services industry.

NCRA’s TechCon event offers attendees a variety of networking sessions, seminars, and workshops geared toward the latest in technology. In addition, attendees can complete the first step toward becoming a Certified Legal Video Specialist or earn the Realtime Systems Administrator Certificate or Trail Presentation Professional Certificate, as well as earn continuing education units. Also offered at the event is the skills test for the Certified Realtime Reporter (CRR) and the Certified Legal Videographer (CLVS) credentials. For the first time, the Realtime Systems Administrator (RSA) Prep Course designed to provide attendees with the information needed to ensure success when taking the RSA Workshop.

“For those who are interested in cutting-edge technology and the specialized programs NCRA offers, TechCon is the must-attend event of the year,” said NCRA President Nancy Varallo, RDR, CRR, Worchester, Mass.

“What is really unique about this particular event is the mingling of different types of technology at one venue. We have court reporters, legal videographers who support stenographic court reporters, and other legal professionals who attend to broaden their technological horizons. There’s always change afoot in our marketplace and we need to keep pace, and how better to stay abreast of market trends than mingling with the technological leaders in our profession,” she added.

“I admit that after more than 20 years of video experience, I thought I had little to learn. In fact, if NCRA did not require continuing education, I wouldn’t be here,” said Kelly Boyd, a legal videographer from Ashland, Pa.

“There is no question though that after attending TechCon, I have tools now to work faster and produce a better product as a legal videographer, and that makes the time and expense of this event not just worthwhile but essential,” he added.

Other sessions on this year’s program included the ever popular Ignite networking session which offers a unique combination of informal social networking with a thought-provoking presentation format, and the vendor speed dating session where attendees were able to get to know the vendors attending who provide services and products to the court reporting profession. Attendees also had the opportunity to hear presentations on using Windows 8, digital video delivery formats, streaming realtime to mobile devices, multi-input video setups, the basics of wireless networking, and magnifying their online presence.

Other highlights included a session on the potential use of Google Glasses in providing hands-free captioning, marketing legal video services, understanding when to upgrade equipment, and research tips for realtime.

This is the third year NCRA has offered the TechCon event.

“It’s so difficult to keep up with all the advances in technology, especially as a sole proprietor,” said Debi Pelletier, CLVS, Port St. Lucie, Fla.

“Technology is moving so fast. At my first TechCon conference, I saw few if any Mac machines; now, just three years later, we are all carrying iPads and talking live streaming. I get answers and ideas at TechCon and this is how I stay relevant and prepared for what’s coming next,” she added.

For more information, visit www.NCRA.org. Career information about the court reporting profession—one of the leading career options that do not require a traditional four-year degree—can be found atwww.CareersInCourtReporting.com.