Minidiscs also have the advantage of being digital and so capable of 
driving speech-input software (providing the player has a port for 
connecting to a PC). For ages I was convinced that people who believed 
this was routinely possible were victims of IMB adverts and Star Trek, 
but recently I have met a couple of students who do it.  They record 
lectures, generate enormous word documents, then edit them down. Of 
course, it means persuading lecturers to wear a lapel mic and dance 
around too much, but it's miraculous when it works.  I doubt the 
compression of MP3s would help the already dubious accuracy, though.

Regards, Bernard

On Mon, 8 Oct 2001 18:18:17 +0100 David Grant <[log in to unmask]> 
wrote:

> Michael Trot comments that
> 
> ">>Personally, it takes a lot to persuade me to recommend a minidisc with an
> 
> >>external microphone and fiddly buttons over a decent tape recorder with an
> >>in-built directional microphone.
> 
> 
> I would suggest it's unwise to generalise from a personal preference.
> 
> 
> When carrying out a Needs Assessment I always provide students with an
> opportunity to handle a minidisc recorder.  I clearly remember one rugby
> fullback with hugh hands showing me how easy it was for him to use my
> minidisc recorder!
> 
> 
> As a recent survey reveals that students with mobile phones send 24 text
> messages a week the current student body would appear to have a degree of
> manual dexterity that is beyond me.  However, this means that they have no
> problems with electronically naming their minidisc files, or using 'fiddly
> buttons'.
> 
> 
> I have used a minidisc recorder for research interviews and have found them
> ideal for transcribing in that you can skip forward and backwards with ease.
> 
> 
> I have also experienced disruption in my lectures when tapes run out and
> students come down to the front to chage them over [difficult to ignore when
> there are six cassette players in front of you]. The long-play nature of
> minidiscs [up to 140plus minutes] saves interuption plus student
> embarressment.
> 
> 
> If there is any doubt allow students to handle both types of devices and
> then act on their preference. I suspect 90% plus will opt for a minidisc.
> 
> 
> If they don't I suspect I might have to buy MT a drink.
> 
> David
> 
> David Grant, PhD., Chartered Psychologist
> dyslexia diagnosis - a specialist service for students
> 3 Rosebank Road
> Hanwell
> London W7 2EW
> 
> Tel: 020 8579 1902
> 
> e-mail:  [log in to unmask]
> 
> ----------
> >From: Michael Trott <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: MP3
> >Date: Mon, Oct 8, 2001, 4:50 pm
> >
> 
> >There are no/very few MP3 recorders. I think SoundBlaster did one but it was
> >£250 and I think it only stored them. The quality is poorer than minidisk but
> >that's probably not necessary for lectures. There are digital recorders
> >available but they do not necessarily use MP3 as a format.
> >Personally, it takes a lot to persuade me to recommend a minidisc with an
> >external microphone and fiddly buttons over a decent tape recorder with an
> >in-built directional microphone. As a general rule I only recommend them if
> >the student has used one before. I have one and it's a real pain.
> >Mick Trott
> >
> >In a message dated 08/10/01 16:18:28 GMT Daylight Time, [log in to unmask]
> >writes:
> >
> ><< Is there anyone who could give me more information on the use of MP3
> > as a method of recording lectures?  I would be interested to share
> > the pros and cons.  Does anyone see MP3 as taking over where the
> > minidisk has failed to reach?
> >
> > Thanks in anticipation
> >
> > Debbie Till
> > Technical Assessor
> > South West Regional Access Centre
> > University of Plymouth
> >  >>

----------------------
Bernard Doherty
Senior Student Adviser
Anglia Polytechnic University
Tel: 01223 363271 x2434
Fax: 01223 363369
Minicom: 01223 576155

[log in to unmask]