a portable interpretation system for a visiting delegation

• Type of event: European delegation coming to New York City to attend a convention
• Locations where the system will be used: at the convention ; in hotels ; in restaurants ; for dinners with customers ; during store visits
• Group size: 30 (will split up into three groups)
• Visit duration: multiple days
• Languages: English into French, French into English
• Number of interpreters: 3 (one per group)
• Number of channels: 6
• Q&A format: question is asked directly to interpreter

in this scenario, a European delegation is coming to New York City to attend a convention and bringing along interpreters as the members of the delegation speak very little English or none at all. The delegation will split into groups with different interests and different schedules and will be touring different areas of the convention. They will use a tour guide system for language interpretation.

each group will be assigned two channels: one for the interpreter to listen to the presenter and one for the group members to listen to the interpreter. Using a dedicated channel for the interpreters to listen to the presenters through an audio feed avoids sound disturbances (and consequent misinterpretation), especially in a crowded and noisy environment like a convention or trade show.

each delegate will be equipped with a receiver with a clip to attach to the belt or a lanyard to hang around the neck and earphones.

each interpreter will carry have two mics, one behind-the-head mic for him/herself and one handheld or plug mount mic for the person talking - if need be. Each interpreter will also have a receiver with earphones.

in this situation, there might be instances when the different groups are having different conversations in the same language combination at the same time. For example, the groups might spread around the exhibit hall of the convention, with one group visiting the Microsoft stand, one the Apple stand, another the Oracle stand, and yet another chatting with the VP of IBM in the lounge area of the hall. Since all the groups are in the exhibit hall, it will be best to use a multi-channel system to avoid interferences.

System configuration

• (6) Belt-pack transmitter
• (3) behind-the-head microphones
• (3) handheld or plug mount microphones
• (33) FM receivers w/ earphones
• (33) Lanyards
• AA batteries

backup equipment:

• (2) BACK-UP Belt-pack transmitter
• (2) BACK-UP behind-the-head microphone
• (2) BACK-UP handheld or plug mount microphone
• (6) BACKUP FM receivers w/ earphones
• Extra AA batteries

(flow chart coming soon)

How it would work:

Step 1: Group A goes to see the Microsoft stand. The interpreter hands the Microsoft rep a handheld mic to talk and tunes into that channel, let's say channel 1. The delegation members tune into the interpreter's channel, let's say channel 2, to hear the interpreter. The interpreter must be able to hear the speaker perfectly as the noise disturbance at the exhibition hall is likely to be quite high.

Step 2: At the same time, Group B goes off to visit the Apple stand. The interpreter hands the Apple rep a mic tuned to channel 3. This group's members listen to the interpretation on channel 4. By the same token, group C will be assigned channels 5 and 6.

Step 3: The delegation members will ask their questions directly to their group's interpreter.

a portable interpretation system for meetings and facility tour

• Type of event: Japanese delegation visiting New Jersey, New York and Connecticut locations for meetings and a facility tour
• Locations where the system will be used: in conference rooms and offices
• Group size: 2-15
• Visit duration: multiple days
• Languages: English into Japanese, Japanese into English
• Number of interpreters: 1
• Number of channels: 2 or 3
• Q&A format: consecutive or simultaneous interpretation mode

sample agenda

• Day 1: demonstration unit only to be used by interpreter and one or two listeners as needed; meeting time 3-5pm; meeting venue in Jersey City
• Day 2: 4 or 5 Participants; meeting time 3-3:30 pm; at an office conference room in Manhattan
• Day 3:
1. facility tour; participants 10-15; client and interpreter will leave Manhattan by car for Connecticut at 9am with the equipment.
2. After the tour, the client and equipment will be transported back to Jersey City in the afternoon where a presentation with 10-15 participants will take place between 4-5 pm.

System configuration

• (1) Belt-pack transmitter
• (1) Behind-the-head, lav, handheld or plug mount microphone
• (1) Handheld or plug mount microphones
• (15) FM receivers w/ earphones
• (15) Lanyards
• AA batteries

backup equipment:

• (1) BACK-UP Belt-pack transmitter
• (1) BACK-UP Behind-the-head, lavalier, handheld or plug mount microphone
• (1) BACK-UP Handheld or plug mount microphone
• (3) BACKUP FM receivers w/ earphones
• Extra AA batteries

(flow chart coming soon)

How it would work:

step 1: Ideally, the speaker of the floor language (in this case, English) is provided a portable FM transmitter with a plug-mount, handheld, lavalier or behind-the-head microphone, set to channel 1. The microphone serves as a direct audio feed to the interpreter wearing an FM receiver with headphones set to receive channel 1. In the absence of a dedicated audio feed (not ideal), the interpreter simply listens to the presenter's natural voice.

step 2: The interpreter sits or walks with the attendees to hear the presenter and speak the Japanese interpretation softly into the microphone of his or her belt-pack transmitter tuned to channel 2.

step 3: The interpretation is broadcast wirelessly to the Japanese and English attendees who listen via their FM receivers tuned to the appropriate channel.

step 4: For the Q&A, the interpreter can perform the interpretation in consecutive mode. Alternatively, to facilitate the Q&A session in simultaneous mode, a transmitter with a plug-mount microphone can be set to Channel 1 and passed around the audience. If using a separate transmitter for the pass around, the presenter's transmitter must be turned off as there cannot be two transmitters using the same channel in one space.

for the one interpreter to toggle between Japanese and English, both languages can be broadcast over the same channel, a solution easiest for the interpreter, yet the attendees are forced to hear both languages or remove their earphone as needed.

alternatively, if each language is to be broadcast on its own channel, English into Japanese on Channel "2" and Japanese into English on Channel "3" here's a few ways the interpreter can toggle between the two languages:

• the interpreter can work with a single transmitter and switch language by pressing a button to switch the channel.
• the interpreter can work with two separate transmitters and switch language by plugging in his/her microphone into the "active" transmitter.
• the interpreter can work with two separate transmitters each with their individual microphone and switch language by turning off the "inactive" transmitter and turning on the "active" one.
• the interpreter can have two transmitters each with their own microphone and switch mic each time the language changes. A desktop microphone with an on/off switch may help make sure no sound travels through the inactive microphone.
• the interpreter which only the one in use plug the microphone and turn off each the microphone.