What Is Video Remote Interpreting?

by Target Language Translation Services

- January 26 2022

Video remote interpreting (VRI) is a form of sign language interpreting that helps people who are deaf or hard of hearing to communicate with a hearing person at the same site via videoconferencing instead of live, on-site interpreting. Qualified interpreter services is especially useful when a qualified interpreter is required immediately, such as at a rural location; and when when an interpreter is required immediately and there is no available interpreter on-site.

VRI works by videoconferencing technology, equipment, and a high speed Internet connection with sufficient bandwidth to offer the services of a qualified interpreter, usually located at a call center, to people at a different location. As the hearing person speaks, the interpreter signs everything said to a web camera. When the person who is deaf replies via their web camera, the interpreter sees and voices the interpretation. The person who is deaf and the person who is hearing can talk back and forth, just as if the interpreter was in the same room.

VRI is currently being utilized in a wide variety of settings including hospitals, physicians’ offices, mental health care settings, police stations, schools, financial institutions, and workplaces. Entities may contract for VRI services to be provided by appointment or to be available “on demand” 24 hours a day, seven days per week. As such, there are significant possibilities for the use of VRI technology and services.

While there are many benefits to utilizing VRI services, there are limits to the effectiveness of VRI in some settings including but not limited to legal and court situations. In such settings, we strongly believes that VRI services should be provided only if on-site interpreter services are unavailable.

At Target Language Translation, our video interpreters are highly qualified, professional and experienced. Their services will help you bridge the communication gap between clients and patients with limited English proficiency or who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing.

You can access quality VRI easily. Target Language Translation has its own VRI service with two ways of access: by appointment or on-demand. Both ways utilize smartphones, tablet, computer with webcam or laptops to offer interpreting services offsite. Both connect people and foster meaningful connections.

This article is reprinted from iu group, DO-IT and National Association of the Deaf.

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