The minutes and summaries of meetings drawn up by Ubiqus are perfectly written documents that can be used directly by its customers. In this transition from oral to written, the original speech is rephrased. The speakers’ comments are clarified and made directly understandable by the reader, whether or not he or she attended the meeting.

Furthermore, the verbal marks present in the original speech are deleted. The text is written in good French and the sentences are constructed.

1. Definition of the report and summary

In summary, all information is retained, but in a form reformulated in relation to the original speech. The report takes the speech to a level of French, on the one hand, and highlights the logical organisation of the speech, on the other hand. The two major flaws of the oral style are corrected: the relaxation of the French language and the disorganisation of the speech.

In summary, only the most important information in the oral speech should be used. All information of limited interest (examples of neighbours, additional comments, digressions, parentheses, off-topic developments, etc.) is thus deleted. Ubiqus offers several levels of synthesis, in order to adapt to the different expectations of its customers.

2. Reformulation example

Below we present you with the same excerpt from a conference restated as a report and summary. The initial speech as pronounced verbally by the speaker (“Transcription”) is also presented to you. This example will give you a more precise idea of the work carried out by Ubiqus on the oral form in report and summary.

Transcript – 258 words

“With Alter Eco, we only buy small producer cooperatives, which earn on average between 100 and 500 euros per year. As many as we know, they earn 5,000 euros a year. They are very disadvantaged producers and yet more than 1 billion on earth with only one hectare of cultivated area and to earn in bulk between 100 and 500 euros per year.

So this billion farmers with their families represent, according to the FAO, 4.3 billion individuals.

So there are 4.3 billion people who just depend on a small lopin of land of less than one hectare and who recover between 100 and 500 euros per year in turnover. They make a margin of 20 to 100 or 200 euros. So they have 20 to 200 euros in money to live. So this is also why they grow the land so that they can recover clean food resources. But otherwise, basically, they have almost zero income and so it’s two-thirds of the world’s population. So fair trade is about these people.

Fair trade is not an epiphenomenon. It is a global and major phenomenon, just like global warming, to which it is a question of giving an answer because, otherwise, it creates major difficulties in the countries, it is a question of giving an answer because, otherwise, it creates major difficulties in the countryside of these countries, which forces people to migrate to cities to find an even worse situation often in slums, etc. And then for all the other problems that can arise in relation to the preservation of the environment.”

Report – 251 words

  1. Small producers, fair trade players

Alter Eco only buys from cooperatives of small producers, who earn on average between 100 and 500 euros per year. The maximum income of which we were aware was €5,000 per year. These are very disadvantaged producers, who generally only have one hectare of cultivated area. There are a billion people in the world who are in this case. According to the FAO,

4.3 billion individuals are actually affected, taking into account the producer’s family.

In summary, 4.3 billion people worldwide survive thanks to a tiny plot of land and derive 100 to 500 euros in turnover per year. Their margin is 20 to 100, or even 200 euros. This is why they also cultivate the land in order to obtain clean food resources. In other words, two-thirds of the world’s population lives with incomes close to zero. Fair trade is about helping these people.

  1. Fair trade, a global and major phenomenon

Fair trade is far from an epiphenomenon. On the contrary, it is a major global phenomenon, as can global warming. In countries affected by climate change, it leads to population migrations from the countryside to cities where living conditions are even more precarious (slums, etc.), not forgetting the various environmental impacts. If nothing is done, this type of difficulty will only increase.

Summary – 139 words

Alter Eco only buys from cooperatives of small producers, who earn on average between 100 and 500 euros per year, for a margin of approximately 20 to 100 euros. These very disadvantaged producers, who generally have only one hectare of cultivated land, are around one billion worldwide. Taking into account their families, 4.3 billion people, or nearly two-thirds of the world’s population, live with incomes close to zero.

Fair trade is about helping these people. Far from being an epiphenomenon, it is on the contrary a global and major phenomenon, just as global warming can be. This leads to population migrations to cities, which offer even more precarious living conditions, not to mention different environmental impacts. If nothing is done, this type of difficulty will only increase.