Handwriting Transcription Service and OCR

Convert handwritten notes into accurate, editable digital documents with ease.

Handwriting Transcription Explained

Handwriting transcription (sometimes referred to as text-to-text transcription or document transcription) is the process of taking notes, forms, historical documents, lists, letters, or other written materials from paper and converting them into digital formats such as word processing documents, PDFs, or spreadsheets. Transcribing handwriting to text is common among businesses that need to scan handwritten documents or convert old records into something accessible online or in searchable databases. Not only can transcribing handwritten documents save time by allowing for easy data entry, but it supports digitization efforts to go paperless. Ultimately, handwriting transcription makes it easier to create actionable data quickly and accurately.

Optical Character Recognition Explained

Optical character recognition, more commonly known as OCR, is a technology that helps to convert images of words quickly and accurately into machine-readable text. OCR enables computers to scan hardcopy documents such as images, paper documents, and other files and extract the text from within them. The extracted text is then ready for export as editable text files, which supports all kinds of tasks like Word document generation or data sharing and analysis. OCR technology has become increasingly advanced with artificial intelligence and powerful deep learning algorithms that allow computers to accurately recognize documents even with complicated layouts, fonts, sizes, or shapes. In addition to improving accuracy and efficiency in the workplace, OCR helps make many digital processes much easier and less time-consuming for individuals who no longer have to manually type out large amounts of written content.

Transcribing Handwritten Documents vs. Optical Character Recognition

Handwriting transcription and optical character recognition (OCR) are two methods of converting handwritten documents into machine-readable text. Handwriting transcription involves manually entering each character on the page into a computer, a process that is time-consuming but produces highly accurate results. OCR works by scanning a document and then using software to convert it into editable text. While faster than handwriting transcription, OCR can be prone to misinterpretation and often results in incorrect or incomplete words or numbers. Because of this, verification by a human transcriptionist or editor is often advisable following an OCR conversion to maximize accuracy.

Optical Character Recognition Limitations

Optical character recognition (OCR) has come a long way in recent years, allowing for greater and more complex accuracy in recognizing text from digital images. However, OCR is far from perfect, and there are a variety of limitations. Firstly, OCR can only read printed material that has high contrast between characters and their background. This means handwriting or cursive letters are out of the realm of possibility when using OCR. Secondly, page segmentation and layout analysis can be complicated because differences in font styles or sizes can influence the results of an OCR scan. Finally, if characters are slightly damaged or faded due to age or differing document coloring techniques, OCR may not be able to interpret the text accurately - regardless of the quality used for scanning. All this means is that while OCR technology is useful for many tasks, it often requires further human intervention to ensure the desired accuracy level.

Human Review of OCR Text

Optical character recognition (OCR) technology is incredibly useful for extracting text from scanned documents; however, it is imperfect. Machines depend on recognizing patterns, and minor deviations can cause discrepancies in the extracted text. Therefore, it is important to pair OCR with a human review of the text to ensure the document's accuracy. A human reviewer can identify uncommon words and irregularities and fill in missing information. Doing this can significantly improve document accuracy, eliminating errors that may lead to misunderstandings or miscommunication if left unchecked. Human review can also ensure compliance with various policies and standards related to document composition. Ultimately, combining OCR technology and human review results in more accurate records that help streamline processes for maximum efficiency.

Contact Athreon for Transcribing Handwritten Documents and OCR

If you need to transcribe handwritten notes into a digital format, Athreon can help. Likewise, if you already have OCR files that need to be verified by a human editor, we’d be delighted to assist you. We have the technology and personnel necessary to ensure accurate text-to-text conversion for transcription of handwritten documents. Our handwriting transcription specialists and editors will capture the requirements of your project and timely convert your paper files, PDFs, handwritten forms, scans, photographs, and more into editable text documents. Contact us for a free consultation at 800.935.0973.