Nine Top-200 Law Firms Implement BigHand Digital Dictation As BigHand File Format (.bhf) Sets 'Legal Sector Standard'

Nine of the Top-200 law firms in the UK have all recently selected the BigHand Digital Dictation System. As a result over 50% of all digital dictation users in the UK, including over 220 of the leading law firms in the country, now dictate using BigHands unique '.bhf voice file format.

(PRWEB) August 23, 2004 -- Nine of the Top-200 law firms in the UK have all recently selected the BigHand Digital Dictation System. As a result over 50% of all digital dictation users in the UK, including over 220 of the leading law firms in the country, now dictate using BigHands unique '.bhf voice file format. BigHand software includes a cutting-edge Codec sound compression system, and is the only digital dictation software in the world to incorporate granular resynthesis, rumble filtering, dynamic pitch control, multiple quality setting and chatter reduction technology.

The nine Top-200 firms recently opting for BigHands .bhf format are (in alphabetical order):

•asb law
•Brabners Chaffe Street
•Davenport Lyons
•Hempsons
•Keeble Hawson
•KSB Law
•Michelmores
•Pitmans
•Prettys

Voice file formats for the legal sector must be developed to cater for a varying set of recording, delivery and storage needs. The BigHand system uses a high quality, highly flexible CELP based system, while competing systems use older Vox or .wav technology. As Dene Gagliardi, IT Manager at Keeble Hawson outlined:

It is surprising that many digital dictation vendors are still using older voice file formats, given the high performance requirements demanded in the legal sector. The BigHand file format is the only one that ticks all the boxes in terms of a lawyers style and volume of dictation, and the specific technical levels law firms stipulate."

When archiving a dictation a law firm will require a file format that holds all the voice data as securely as possible; for delivery via the network you will need a file format that provides the smallest and most secure file size achievable; for profiling purposes the files need to efficiently carry and communicate metadata; and mobile dictation requires the efficient correction of background noise or 'chatter. Only the most sophisticated systems are able to cater for all these requirements concurrently, and for high numbers of users. The BigHand .bhf format is currently used at the largest legal digital dictation site in the world, Ashurst, who have 1500 users.

Steve Barham, IT Manager at asb law commented:
Our selection process found the BigHand compression system to be the one best suited to our needs. Legal IT departments are discerning buyers, and the fact that over 200 of them have now opted to use BigHands File Format says a great deal. The .bhf format is certainly creating a legal sector standard."

Contacts:
Dan Speed, Marketing Manager, +44 207 793 3076, dan.speed@bighand.com
http://www.bighand.com
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