How does an stenographer/stenography works?

Question

I saw some videos and still can’t understand, a lady just type like 5 buttons ans a whole phrase comes out on the screen. Also doesnt make sense at all what I see from the stenographer screen, it is like random letters no in the same line.

EDIT: Im impressed by how complex and interesting stenography is! Thank you for the replies and also thank you very much for the Awards! 🙂

In: Other

Answer 1

Stenography is a method of shorthand writing, where commonly used words are condensed into their own symbols or symbol combinations, and uncommon words are spelled out phonetically to reduce the number of needed letters.

For example “cat” is typed out KAT and can be typed using a single sweeping motion of two fingers and the thumb.

Some common shorthand abbreviations are “mn” for machine or “shand” for shorthand

So, a stegograph might read something like:

T . H . . . . .
. . . . EU . . . S .
. . A . . . PB . . .
. KP A . . P L . .
. . . . . P L . . . .

TH – This

EUS – is

APB – an

KPAPLPL – example (broken up into two chords)

The spaces on the form are created because the keys strike the paper at set locations.

Because each of those lines indicates a single simultaneous press of multiple buttons, a stenographer can reach typing speeds of up to 300 words per minute, with the world record being about 375.