Video Remote Interpreting combines the convenience of video calls with the skills of a highly trained translator. It’s a service that’s becoming more and more common within industries that often face communication barriers due to language differences. From medical to legal environments, for education and personal use, a VRI interpreter is becoming a common feature in workplaces.
Face-to-face interpretation has long been the favoured method of translation. This is due to the fact that a large amount of communication is non-verbal and a skilled translator will be able to pick up on these non-verbal cues. But, thanks to ever-advancing technology, the need for in-person interpretation (which often includes a long wait) has been reduced.
Today, your VRI interpreter will be able to host their services on a number of state-of-the-art platforms to ensure that all your communication needs are met smoothly. Here are some of the platforms that you might be able to choose from.
Microsoft Teams
This virtual conferencing platform allows you to hold secure meetings with as many people as you require. It’s especially useful for companies that use and are familiar with Microsoft’s office packages, as this will already be built into your services. Depending on the industry they focus on, your VRI interpreter should be able to offer this.
Skype
Skype is great for a VRI interpreter as it’s free for anyone to sign up for, is simple to use, and offers end-to-end encryption, which means all calls are private. As well as being a common app on computers, it’s easy to use on mobile phones – which makes it even more flexible, as not all clients or patients will have computer access. Another useful feature is the live subtitles function, which allows users to see a real-time transcript on screen.
WEBEX
WEBEX is a sleek app that encompasses everything from video calls to messages, making it easy to arrange meetings. Not only can it be used on any device (thanks to their cloud phone system), it’s free to use, making it accessible for everyone.
This is often a popular choice for more personal interpretation sessions as it’s a messaging app that many people are familiar with all over the world. Not only is it very easy to navigate, but it’s completely free to send text messages, make video calls and more – you just need an internet connection.
Zoom
Zoom really took off during the pandemic and has made the work of a virtual translation easier and much more popular. Like many of these platforms, it can host one-to-one and group video meetings, allows screen sharing, and you can record your meeting, which is a useful feature for users of video interpretation. There is a free version but you’re limited to 40-minute meetings.
As you can see, there is a wide range of great technology out there, it just depends on what’s right for your needs. However, regardless of the platforms that you or your clients are familiar with, a reputable VRI interpreter will be able to meet your requirements.
Author Plate
Ari Keneally is a consultant for Bilingual Connections, a company offering professional foreign language services, including the services of a With a mission to help people use language to enhance their career and improve their quality of life, the company provides a comprehensive service in over 70 languages for a variety of industries to meet the challenges of today’s global arena.
