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Comment by no_gravity | Hacker News Reader

Strange, the transcripts of the interviews are now delivered as google docs. I always thought it was just search-engine-fodder. Do some people really prefer to read the interviews?

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I read significantly faster than you can talk, and I don't have tons of free time. Why would you NOT prefer to read an interview, as long as its transcribed properly?

Yes, I like to read the transcript. Mostly because it is faster to get through it, but also when I read the transcript I can Google names or thoughts in it. I also listen to the audio when I am on a walk or in the car.

There's a popular series of Ruby on Rails tutorial videos called Railscasts. Someone decided to textualize all of them--Asciicasts--because text has the benefit of being easily searchable.

For me, I went straight for the doc so I could a quick scan. I just didn't have the time this morning to read or listen to all of it. If I could do a sped-up listen through, I might consider it.

I would say in general having both an audio and text format is more powerful than just having one or the other.

Yes- audio is great for commute. But I can read the transcript in a fraction of the time. I do both depending on schedule, and like the option.

Another point for transcripts is that most non-native English speakers will have a much easier time understanding written material.

I always read the transcript if it is available for interviews. It has to be at least 3 times as fast as listening.

Some people are hearing-impaired and need a transcript in the absence of captions.

Most definitely some do.

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