Short definition
A stenomask is a soundproofed speaking mask into which an operator quietly re-speaks what's being said – for speech recognition or transcription, without disturbing those nearby.
Detailed explanation
The technique is also called "respeaking": a trained person listens to what's happening and speaks it simultaneously – cleanly, corrected, and with punctuation – into a soundproofed mask. The mask isolates the voice so surroundings hear nothing, while the speech recognition system receives a clean, interference-free signal. This produces text in real time – such as live captions or a transcript.
The advantage over automatic transcription: a human filters, organizes, and corrects what they hear, achieving high accuracy even with multiple speakers, accents, or technical language. The stenomask thus combines classic stenographic work with modern speech recognition and is an important tool for accessible events.
Relevance in this subject area
Wherever live captions or real-time transcripts are needed, the stenomask is a quiet, precise alternative to a keyboard – complementing interpreting and conference technology with a written layer.
Practical example
At an accessible conference, a respeaker with a stenomask sits next to the interpreting booths and re-speaks the contributions. Captions appear on a screen in the hall almost live.
Related terms
Stenography, Recording, Interpreting booth, Transmission technology, Conference technology