Virtual Interpreting Technologies

The VIT Feature Explorer is an interactive tool that allows you to filter virtual interpreting technologies by the features that are of most interest to you. There are seven categories of filters: use-case, interpreting service, features for interpreting, meetings and event management features, interpreter management system features, security and standards, and integrations. Explore these highly-detailed, curated profiles at your leisure.

Translation is transmitting written text from one language into written text in a different language. Interpreting on the other hand is the transmission of a spoken message in one language into a spoken message in another language. Or in the case of sign language interpreting, from the spoken word into gestures and vice-versa.

• OPI is when two or more speakers that speak different languages communicate with each other using an interpreter who calls in using a phone line (either smartphone or landline). The interpreter works in consecutive mode.
• VRI is similar to OPI but the speakers can also see the interpreter through a video call. The interpreter still works consecutively.
• RSI is quite different to the previous types of interpreting because the interpreter interprets the speaker’s message simultaneously into a different language. The listeners log onto the same platform and select the channel in which the interpretation can be heard.

Machine interpreting currently involves a cascade model whereby a spoken message is transcribed into the same language by AI, then it is translated into the desired language using machine translation. That written translation is then read out by a synthetic voice.