Derived from better internet connectivity, robust mobile environments, and improved online conferencing platforms, Remote Simultaneous Interpretation (RSI) has become increasingly prevalent in the past few years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, with most educational (and other) events having to “pivot” to remote and online-based, this state-of-the-art interpretation technology had a chance to flourish. Its convenience, ease of use, and realm of previously uncharted possibilities laid the foundation for this tech-savvy technology to become one of the most efficient ways to include and reach diverse audiences.
In this article, we will discuss:
- some points to consider as you are planning an event during which you want to offer interpretation to your audience
- general requirements for RSI
- what to expect on the date of the event
Points to Consider
One of the most important aspects of Remote Simultaneous Interpretation, as the name already indicates, is just that — its REMOTE nature! This means not only can interpreters work from anywhere in the world, but also that the attendees of your event can listen – in their own preferred language — from wherever they may be located. This increases the reach of your message, and the number of people who can benefit from and join your event. The process usually allows for as many languages as needed, even in multiple concurrent rooms. All that without the cost and liability traditionally associated with the installation of an interpretation booth, distribution of transmitters, and prohibitive travel expenses.
Another reason to consider RSI is the type of event, or presentation, you’re hosting. For online events, for example, RSI allows 2-way communication, emulating a real-life scenario of interpretation, and creating space for interaction between panelists and attendees. So, if you are planning to host a workshop where there could be the potential for people to interact with the speaker, RSI has the capability of bridging the gap between speaker and audience in order to promote the exchange needed. Planning to host a regular PowerPoint presentation instead? RSI is perfect for that, too! Attendees can watch the presentation, and listen to the audio in their own language, on their preferred device, without missing a beat.
The final – and probably most important item to consider – is RSI’s accessibility capabilities. For most events, Remote Simultaneous Interpretation makes the interpretation process easy, straightforward, and user friendly. As the user may be accessing the event via their own personal devices, they can enjoy the comfort and setup of their familiar environments, with little or no learning curve. In tandem, it’s crucial to have a reliable internet connection. This is true from both the host’s and the attendees’ perspectives. For the host, at an on-site event, for instance, the presentation needs to be streamed through the interpretation platform so that the interpreters can follow the actual presentation, as facial expressions, mannerisms, and other visual cues are as important as the audio itself. For the attendees, the better and more stable the connection, the more seamless the experience will be, absent any delays and buffering.
General Requirements
As previously mentioned, the number one requirement is internet! A reliable, high-speed connection will be needed depending on the type of RSI for your event.
Next, you’ll need to establish the number of attendees, and the manner of the presentation itself. For our Remote Simultaneous Interpretation projects, we use and recommend KUDO as the RSI platform. KUDO was developed with multilingual aspects and capabilities in mind that can be accessed on both mobile devices or desktops, and allows for one or multiple-way interactions. It allows the event to take place directly within the platform, or as an accessory to another forum such as Zoom and Go to Meeting.
Our interpreters are always selected with the subject matter of the presentation in mind, but the style of the presenter, and specific terminology choices, can vary from person to person. With that in mind, it’s vital to provide content in order to prepare the interpreters with the speaking style of the presenter(s). For that, you should always have reference material ready (or planned) to send to the interpreters as early as possible. Types of reference materials include:
- presentation slide decks
- speaker notes
- potential questions
- speaker bios
- agendas/programming
These materials give the interpreters the opportunity to become more familiar with the structure and style of the presentation, creating the best and most accurate interpretation for your attendees.
What to expect
For on-site events, one of the greatest unforeseen benefits of RSI is that it takes up very little space when compared to traditional on-site interpretation. So, on the day of your event, you should expect to not see multiple sound booths set up in your venue for the interpreters to work from, nor any complex sound equipment. You will also not have to deal with accommodations and interpreter travel expenses, insurance for transmitters, or the learning curve of how to operate them, as all of these elements are superfluous with Remote Simultaneous Interpretation – even if your event is in person and on-site.
With RSI, what you can expect is interpreters working from literally anywhere in the world, allowing for more space at your event for info booths, attendees, displays, or to better comply with any restrictions/special circumstances! You should also expect simple and intuitive instructions for accessing and navigating the interpretation platform. In our case, these instructions are provided upon confirmation of the project, and, if you’d prefer, made available in the preferred language of your target audience.
Additionally, a very popular option clients take advantage of with RSI is that the session can be easily recorded for your organization to use later on, either with or without the original audio. Whether the idea is to email a copy to the attendees, post it on your website to be accessed for organization members, or to just keep for your records, all you need to do is let us know you’d like to activate this feature!
To Conclude
Finally, you can expect your event to run as intended – hassle-free – knowing that Interpro Translation Solutions has you and your attendees covered for any interpretation/translation needs.
If you’d be interested in exploring how Remote Simultaneous Interpretation can work for your event, please feel free to contact us at your convenience! We are here to help you reach your audiences in a way that makes them feel most comfortable and included.