We don’t think so.

Some folks passionately believe proofreading on a screen is less accurate than proofreading on paper.

We respect those folks as fellow professionals, and we want to state upfront this FAQ post is NOT intended to start some kind of argument or lengthy debate.

There is some truth to the belief that paper is mightier than the screen … but we’ve determined that the “truth” currently floating around cannot be applied to ALL screens — that is, all screens are not created equal.

We’ve done thorough research on this debate. First and foremost, we found that there have been no studies done on screens vs. paper since 2006 — yet the iPad was first released in April of 2010 (and has been since greatly improved upon in just a short time).

In addition, a grand total of zero studies have been done between an iPad and paper.

Furthermore, no official, objective studies have been done between any type of screen and paper with transcript proofreading as the task at hand.

The Garland article compares all studies that have been done on paper vs. screen over the last four decades. You’ll note that the later the study, the fewer significant differences were found in terms of reading speed and accuracy between paper and screen reading, if any were found at all.

We feel the evidence is undeniable that these older studies, while arguably true at one point, are unable to provide a clear picture of today’s technology.

The findings from the studies, however, continue to be cited as truth despite evidence to the contrary. What was true about technology in the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, and even into the 2000s and beyond isn’t necessarily true in 2015 — and it can’t be, logically, because the technology that existed in the time periods the studies were performed (especially the older studies) isn’t even manufactured anymore.

Therefore, we don’t believe grouping all screens together into one category is fair — screens have come a long way since the studies were done.  Do you remember using computers from the ’80s, ’90s, and the 2000s? The monitor displays were grainy, pixelated, and they were no comparison to the crystal-clear, paper-like display of modern tablets such as the iPad.

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For us here at PA, we believe the iPad’s ultra-clear retina display trumps the screens of older computer monitors that were the subjects in many of the past studies.

Moreover, for those who’ve used an iPad specifically to proofread transcripts, it’s hard to deny the oomph an iPad adds to our proofreading: an instant dictionary and Google look-up tools; automatic backlighting adjustments on an ultra-clear retina display (easy on the eyes); and our favorite — the document search tool, which makes it fast and easy to check for all additional instances of a misspelled name, number, or word. We believe iPad has the potential to make proofreading even more thorough — especially if you fully utilize the available tools.

If you’re concerned about the effects of light emitted from iPad screens, even from the sleek retina screen, we recommend purchasing blue-light filtering computer reading glasses or these nifty screen films for iPad.

The post Isn’t proofreading on an iPad less accurate than on paper? appeared first on Proofread Anywhere.

YES! Modern technology has made proofreading transcripts on an iPad extremely secure. We’d venture to say it’s much safer than using a printer and paper — ’cause you can’t password protect that stuff. The added security makes the job of a proofreader much more flexible. There’s no need to worry about losing the job or pages going missing if you take advantage of the security features inherent with the iPad and the annotation app.

Not only can you use the iPad’s settings to password-protect your device (some models even have a fingerprint identity sensor, making it virtually impossible for thieves to break into your device), you can also password protect the iAnnotate app itself — so no one can get into your files.

Transcripts are not always part of public record and may contain bits and pieces of sensitive information; therefore, it’s paramount to use a method of proofreading that will keep the content secure.

iAnnotate is a fantastic way to do that.

Here is a tutorial to show you how to password protect your files within the app. You’ll want to scroll down to the section on “Security”.

Court reporters may also choose to password protect the PDFs they send to you. If this is the case, iAnnotate is also equipped to store the passwords for those PDFs.

For Additional Security

If you’re still worried about people snooping on the transcripts you’re reading, use a privacy protection screen mount for iPad mini (or Air). This screen mount ensures your eyes are the only ones able to see what’s on the screen — the way it should be.

Additional Reading

Why Do You Recommend an iPad? (Do I really need one? What about Android? Can I work on my laptop?, etc.)

The post Is proofreading transcripts on an iPad secure? appeared first on Proofread Anywhere.

Why Do You Recommend an iPad?

This FAQ post primarily refers to iPads in reference to the transcript proofreading course. It is not necessary or required to purchase an iPad to become a proofreader in any way, shape, or form; however, to proofread [transcripts] in PDF format, many of our students have followed the advice in this article. There are other software options that allow PDF annotation that cost more and/or may not have the same features or functionality as iAnnotate.

I don’t recommend an iPad just ’cause it’s an iPad. I recommend it because Folio makes an amazing app called iAnnotate.

It’s only $9.99. And it is incredible.

This fantastic, powerful little app allows you to:

• Open PDF files directly from an e-mail into the app.
• Create your own toolbox with things you use most often to annotate.
• Personalize “stamps” so you don’t have to type out “add comma” or “delete comma” over and over again.
• E-mail the job directly from the app.
• Highlight words to check the dictionary for their spelling (if it’s not found, there’s a good chance it’s not a word).
• Google directly from the app. Highlight the word and select “Google”. Helps a lot if you’re checking on spelling and proper names.
• My personal favorite feature: you can choose to send “Annotated Pages Only” and the app will attach a file containing only annotated pages into the e-mail you’ll be sending to your client.

Key Features of iAnnotate 4.5

iAnnotate 4.5 has some new features. The first one is the ability to merge PDFs. Unfortunately, I could not figure out how to use this feature. This was a little disappointing as it would have been interesting to see how this would work. The instructions were not included in the reference guide.

The second new feature is the Advanced Library Search. When you search for a specific word in your document, the results pull up sentences with the used word, making it so convenient and easy.

The final new feature is the Navigation Panel. This new feature allows you to find results in your document or your library much faster. The navigation button will enable you to see all the pages at once making it super simple to select your page destination. I am a huge fan of this new option!

Do I Need Wi-Fi to Use iAnnotate?

You only need Wi-Fi to download and send files. Once the files are downloaded, you can work in iAnnotate anywhere — long flights are my favorite!

Which iPad Should I Buy? Why?

I recommend an iPad mini. The size is perfect for traveling and proofreading anywhere (my specialty!). The screen isn’t that much smaller than the full-sized version (you’d be surprised), and I’ve used both.

If you can get to an Apple store to test out both in your hands, do that, and you’ll see what I mean. My students who took this advice and went with the iPad mini are so glad they did.

If you plan to be out of Wi-Fi zones for long periods of time, you may consider the cellular version, but it’s 99% of the time unnecessary. Even if you’re in the car, these days it’s possible to use your cell phone as a hotspot to download files quickly as needed.

Apple has an awesome comparison chart for the current iPad versions.

Where Should I Buy an iPad?

Amazon is always a good bet. You can also check out Gazelle for pre-owned ones that have been refurbished. Apple has refurbished iPads as well that have the same warranty as a new one.

What if I have “fat fingers”? What if I have bad eyes?

Yes, people ask me that! Ha! You can always err on the side of caution and go for the iPad Air. It’s slim, and doesn’t weigh too much more than the mini. I always say, “You won’t hate it!”

Like I mentioned above, check out the Apple store if you want to test them all in your hands. Keep in mind, too, that you can zoom in on iAnnotate while you’re reading documents, and when you turn the mini to the side, the text is even bigger and you can zoom more — it gets REALLY big. If you’re reading books, you can increase the font size as well.

You can also use an Apple Pencil or stylus.

What if I hate Apple/have an Android?

I teach several methods in the courses, but my favorite is iPad. Why? BECAUSE OF iANNOTATE! It is really that amazing.

Don’t believe me? Think I’m probably just another Apple freak? Here are some exact quotes from some of my students in regard to the app on Android:

Used an Android until my iPad arrived. There is simply no comparison between the 2 apps because the Android version is so far behind. The iPad app is lightyears ahead and allows you to be more time efficient.

iAnnotate for Android sucks. Can’t make any stamps, customize the toolbar, etc.

My iPad mini just arrived! I did a happy dance, and my husband looked at me funny. He doesn’t understand. I’ve been proofing on hard copy and on an Android tablet. I am SO excited to use iAnnotate on the iPad mini. I’ll finally have the best tools for the task!

I sold my Samsung Galaxy tab and caved to buy the mini instead. Tried iAnnotate on the Samsung and just didn’t do it for me. Much easier on the iPad.

Can I do this work on a PC?

For general proofreading, you can absolutely work on a PC using Adobe, Microsoft Word, or Google Docs. I have tutorials within the course that show you the basics of how to use each tool. However, some students swear by using a tablet to proofread. It’s totally up to you!

For transcript proofreading, you can do the work on a PC, but it is just significantly slower and less efficient, plus you don’t have the “like paper” feel of the iPad. It’s also been passed around quite a bit in the court reporting world that reading from a desktop computer screen (NOT a tablet) can cause your eyes to glaze over things easier than on paper or a tablet screen. I’d strongly recommend going with the quickest, most efficient method you can if you’re serious about doing this kind of work. The more time you spend fiddling with technology or doing things in a more old-fashioned way, the more time it will take you to earn your money. Remember, you’re paid per page, and if it takes you longer to mark up the jobs because you’re not doing it the fastest way, your bottom line stays the same, but it just takes you longer to earn it.

If you’re desperate to start learning how to proofread via PDF but want to wait to get an iPad later on (and you understand that the following recommendations are not as fast or efficient as the tried-and-true iAnnotate iOS version), you can check out these apps:

• Drawboard PDF (Windows)
• Kami (Google Chrome Plug-in)
• Xodo PDF Reader and Editor (Android)
• ezPDF Reader (Android)

Is proofreading on an iPad secure?

See this post to find out.

The post Why Do You Recommend an iPad? Which iPad Should I Buy? Why? When Should I Get an iPad? What If I Don’t Like Apple? What If I Already Have an Android? Can I Work On My Laptop? appeared first on Proofread Anywhere.