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                                   2.


              Key technologies in complex trials - overview



This Chapter provides a brief explanation of each of the main uses of
information technologies relevant to complex trials, including document
storage, retrieval and management, and the infrastructure needed to utilise
these types of information in court and otherwise (including operating
systems, communications technologies and display technologies). The use of
presentation graphics to simplify evidence is left until Chapter 7. The second
half of the Chapter reviews other technologies used in and by courts which are
not of special relevance to complex trials, but may require the use of the
same equipment.

Much of this Chapter is intended as a simple primer for those who have
insufficient familiarity with some of the software and hardware which will be
referred to in later Chapters. A more detailed introduction to information
technology for lawyers may be found in Staudt and Keane (1992) Appendix A
'Basic computer primer for litigators'.

A Glossary of technical terms, abbreviations and product names is in an
Appendix to the Report. It also contains references back to the text of the
Report which give more detailed explanations of terms in the Glossary, and
details of the local distributors of some of the main litigation support
software mentioned in this Chapter and elsewhere.



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