A stenotype machine (sometimes known as a shorthand machine) is a typewriter with a chorded keyboard that is used by a court reporter (stenographer, or captionist) to document verbal proceedings.

By using a stenotype machine a stenographer is capable of documenting voice at speeds of 275 words per minute.

The keyboard on a stenotype machine is typically set out as follows:

Stenotype Machine Keyboard Layout

Stenographers will press multiple keys at once to spell out whole words or phrases. In some respects this is very similar to computer “compression” algorithms, which when looked at is shorthand print.

A stenotype machine looks like this:

Stenotype Machine

A video (sorry but the vocals are in French) showing how a stenotype machine is used can be seen below: