While disadvantages of machine shorthand do exist, advantages must be closely examined by businesses wanting to increase office productivity. (JOW)

The success of shorthand/transcription programs should be judged more on students' abilities to satisfy the ultimate goal of shorthand/transcription--neat, error-free copy--rather than on their abilities to pass three-minute speed takes with 95 percent accuracy. (CT)

A Study of 33 Gregg shorthand and 31 touch shorthand students (equated according to sex, age, and English ACT scores indicated touch shorthand theory and reading is easier for all students to learn and dictation and transcription rates of the two groups are equal. (AG)

Results of a study were reported which indicated that progressively more dictation practice time is needed by students to achieve each speed level from 60 wpm to 90 wpm and less time is needed by students to achieve 100 wpm than to achieve 70, 80, or 90 wpm. (Author/SC)

Suggestions for incorporating the use of shorthand in an office simulation include having different people dictating materials, taking phone messages in shorthand, taking taped dictation as if it were oral dictation, and transcribing answering service messages, letter dictation, and minutes of organizational meetings. (AG)

Shorthand is threatened by office automation and by students who have neither the time nor inclination to spend two years learning symbolic shorthand. However, there is a positive movement to adopt alphabetic shorthand for occupational and personal use. (JOW)