- So your budget has been approved. It's for next Friday next week.



- Yeah, that's fine. I've just gotta check childcare.



- [Hearing Woman] That's fine, just let me know by Monday.



- [Interpreter] Yeah, that's fine, no problem.



- [Voiceover] VRI is short for Video Remote Interpreting. It means that I'm not physically in the same location as other people in the booking. They can use various devices, such as laptops, iPads, and sometimes a mobile phone to connect with me. The deaf person signs and I interpret that into spoken English and when the English speaker speaks, I will interpret that into Auslan. This can happen with those people all together in one room or all of us in different physical locations.



- [Voiceover] When traveling for work, I use video remote interpreting. For quick, one-hour meetings, I simply need to connect to the interpreter on my laptop.



- [Voiceover] It's a good use of interpreting resources, as deaf people can get easier access to interpreting and more jobs can be filled. Deaf people don't have to wait for interpreters to drive from one location to the next.



- [Voiceover] Having interpreting services available any time via technology gives me a different level of access. There aren't the same complications and stresses trying to secure an interpreter face-to-face.



- [Voiceover] One disadvantage of video remote interpreting can be the technology itself. Occasionally you have poor audio or the image freezes or pixelates. Knowing this, I always ensure that I sign and fingerspell clearly and slowly in case there are issues at their end.



- [Voiceover] The advancements in technology are rapid. Internet speeds are only going to get faster. Meaning, in the future, more sharper picture quality.



- [Voiceover] Nowadays, more people are using their mobile phones for accessing a video remote interpreter.



- [Voiceover] I found for work purposes, a laptop is a best-suited device. On the other hand, for personal purposes, I find a smartphone can work well. So this might be for short meetings with a lawyer, drafting a will or medical appointments. I often use VRI for medical appointments.



- [Voiceover] Perhaps over time people will become more used to using video remote interpreting. Some people like it, some don't. It's an individual preference.



- [Voiceover] Of course my preference is to have an interpreter physically in person, but the reality is we have limited resources, and, too, in the working environment, meetings can be called with little notice. VRI is a quick and straightforward solution in providing deaf people with access. We have the technology available to us, so we should use it to our best advantage.



- [Voiceover] I think video remote interpreting can be used in many settings. Most importantly, I think it's providing access for the deaf community.



- [Voiceover] Interpreter supply and demand is an issue. There aren't enough Auslan interpreters. VRI is a perfect solution to this issue. Particularly as internet speeds increase and become more viable.



- That's fine, just let me know by Monday.



- [Voiceover] I would encourage people to try VRI. It's more flexible and less stressful.



- [Voiceover] To provide a good VRI service that supports an Auslan interpreter to do their job, whether that be through an agency or direct, you need preparation materials. For example, knowing what the appointment is for or being provided with an agenda that explains what'll be covered in the meeting.



- [Voiceover] There are other considerations worth thinking about when using VRI, such as the quality of the audio input. Having an external microphone or speaker device is ideal. This allows VRI interpreter to hear the conversations more accurately. At times, the VRI interpreter may not always be able to pick up on everything that is being said due to the acoustics of the room you're in. A good solution is having an external microphone available.



- [Voiceover] Connecting 10 or 15 minutes in advance of the booking to ensure everything's working on both ends is a good idea.



- [Voiceover] The great thing about VRI is that it's an on-demand service. As a professional working in the corporate sector, there are frequent unscheduled meetings that occur as needed throughout the day. I now have the ability to contact the interpreting agency and quickly secure a VRI interpreter at short notice.



- [Voiceover] I think it's important, as a video remote interpreter, that we don't panic and that we do our best to manage the situation. If it just isn't working, we can postpone the appointment to another time. Usually everything works out well during a booking, but don't panic and do your best like you would with any other interpreting job. Always expect the unexpected.



- [Voiceover] It allows for greater flexibility. I would encourage people to give it a go.



- [Voiceover] And guess what? I can also wear my slippers. Hello, welcome to my little room where I do VRI, video remote interpreting. I use the computer in front of me and I thought I might give you a little bit of an outline on how to set up a space that's conducive to VRI. 

- Of course, having a room with a door that you can close to prevent any interruptions by pets or children, for that matter, is important. Making sure that you have the door closed. The next important consideration is lighting. This is so you're easily visible to the people who are looking at you. I have this portable light, which is great, and depending on whether it's day or night time, this determines whether I have the blinds open or closed. I need to see if the natural light or artificial light is the best for communication.

- You need to check all of this with the deaf person before the job starts, of course. Another consideration is having a backdrop such as this green or blue screen here. It's important to make sure it's covering the whole background and that it hasn't fallen down so that it appears professional to the people on the other end of the screen. Clothing is important, too. I never wear the same colour clothing as the backdrop. 

- So ensure that you have good contrast in colours with what you wear and what the backdrop is, as well, and remember some agencies have their own preferences and parameters to work within. Just keep that in mind. Need to be able to hear what's being said clearly. 

- Sometimes it can be hard to hear through the computer itself. Sometimes it's okay if you're working one-on-one or one-on-two. Occasionally I'll use my mobile so that I can hear the meeting. It depends, as there are different ways to use the computer or your phone to access meetings effectively. 

- I've got airpods that I use to enable me to hear clearly. Oh, whoops! It's important to make sure that they're charged. The day before my appointment, I make sure that I charge them as I don't want them to go flat half-way through the booking. I put them on and I can make adjustments to the volume on the computer so that I can hear clearly. Depending on who's sitting close to the laptop or further away in the other location will determine whether you're going to be able to hear other speakers well or not. 

- If people on the other end have accents, that can make it difficult to interpret sometimes and sometimes the deaf person might have a microphone, which can be placed close to all of the people speaking, which allows me to hear very well. So sound and lighting are two very important factors for video remote interpreting. 

- Not just for myself, but for the people on the other end. If the deaf person is silhouetted against a window, it will be difficult to interpret. It's important to manage all of that at the beginning if there's time. In situations where two interpreters are required for VRI bookings, contacting the other interpreter prior to the booking is critical.

- This is where you can work out when and how you'll swap to active role or to designate a language direction. This also means that the people at the other end aren't required to manage everything. So that's a bit of a summary of what it takes to be a video remote interpreter. 

- I'm sure you or your interpreter colleagues have tips that are helpful for working in this environment. Video remote interpreting is a great way to be able to provide more access. 

- Bye!