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BigHand has become the first digital dictation developer to release a true Terminal Server Digital Dictation solution, with the technology already successfully in operation with 203 lawyers and secretaries across 10 firms. BigHand is the first vendor in the world to officially supply digital dictation across Terminal Servers: - which includes Citrix MetaFrame 1.8, Citrix MetaFrame XP and Windows Terminal Services systems.

The inability of current thin client technology - an important part of the remote working infrastructure for many law firms - to effectively handle .wav files has prevented many firms from taking advantage of the DDS workflow boom. Despite some supplier claims of compatibility, it is well known there have been 5 fundamental issues with using digital dictation software during terminal server sessions. These are:

·No real time recording: When the user presses the record or stop button the user can lose dictation or continue to record sound for up to 15 seconds because Citrix ‘buffers’ sound.
·No real time play back: The current position of the sound player can be misreported and is actually up to 15 seconds ahead of reality because Citrix ‘buffers’ sound.
·USB compatibility: USB input devices cannot be effectively utilised within Terminal Server environments.
·High bandwidth utilisation: sound can seriously impact Terminal Server network efficiency.
·High bit rate Codecs: current digital dictation solutions use Codecs that are too inefficient for thin client use and therefore impact overall system performance.

BigHand has solved all of these issues after a successful 12-month development and testing programme. BigHand has been able to extend Terminal Server protocol for the use of sound channels within thin client systems. The BigHand system also utilises cutting edge audio streams that are designed to handle voice frequencies only, and a new Codec that incorporates CELP compression, noise reduction and pitch control.

As Andrew Rhead, Partnership Secretary at Tinsdills Solicitors, who have 22 users of the BigHand Thin Client solution on Citrix MetaFrame 1.8, commented:

“BigHand’s achievement is a first in the digital dictation market as we know it, and we are proud to have assisted in this breakthrough. Citrix are due to release a two-way sound solution later in the year, but this will leave the majority of firms with a choice between an upgrade and no dictation system at all. The BigHand solution is unique in that it offers backward compatibility.”

Graham Dobson, Managing Partner of Dobson Hillman Solicitors, who have a Citrix MetaFrame XP infrastructure, added:

“This Citrix dictation solution is the real thing – firms who use thin client environments have been promised a digital dictation solution by vendor after vendor in the past, but BigHand have delivered. We have had 20 users up and running on BigHand for 9 months and it has proved to be both reliable and 100% functional. The combination of Citrix and BigHand Digital Dictation is hugely beneficial from a business perspective.”

A forthcoming version of Citrix (yet to be released) is thought to handle two way sound, but is not designed specifically for voice dictation. The bandwidth requirements for BigHand Digital Dictation are expected be approximately 3 to 7K more efficient than the forthcoming Citrix version.

BigHand work in cooperation with Citrix Gold Partners Intercept IT. Martin Bond of Intercept commented:

"We are pleased to have formed a partnership with BigHand and have been impressed by the sophistication of their thin client dictation software. They have solved an issue that up until now has prevented many law firms with Citrix considering digital dictation projects, or vice versa."