Case Study: Providing Hybrid Interpreting Solutions For Aerovironment
Language Connections (LC) recently provided simultaneous interpreting services for a series of meetings hosted by AeroVironment (AV) and their partner SoftBank. These meetings, held in AV’s offices in California, brought together English-speaking and Japanese-speaking participants on-site, along with remote participants joining virtually. The sessions required simultaneous, bi-directional Japanese-English interpretation to ensure seamless communication between all groups.
The hybrid meetings required an interpreting solution that could connect in-person and remote attendees without disrupting the flow of communication. Leveraging decades of experience in the translation and interpreting industries, LC combined experienced interpreters, specialized interpretation equipment, and a customized technical setup to support both on-site and remote participants. Our work with AV underscores the critical role that multilingual communication plays in global business expansion and operational efficiency.
AV is a company that specializes in intelligent multi-domain robotic systems, uncrewed aircraft and ground systems, sensors, software analytics, and connectivity for applications in various industries, including the defense and commercial sectors.
Since 2021, AV has partnered with Language Connections for Japanese interpreting services for key meetings.
AV’s collaboration with SoftBank, a leading Japanese telecommunications company, is rooted in the vision of expanding connectivity to reach underserved populations. In 2019, AV introduced the Sunglider™, an innovative solar-powered, high-altitude pseudo-satellite (HAPS) capable of providing wireless coverage across a 200-kilometer area from 20 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. This initiative is part of HAPS Mobile’s mission to bridge the digital divide by creating a network of solar-powered aircraft that can deliver connectivity to billions of people without basic wireless access while addressing the growing demands of 5G and the Internet of Things.
Supporting Integration For Hybrid Interpreting Solutions
Ensuring that interpretation was accessible to both on-site participants and remote attendees was a central challenge. The meetings brought together participants in person at AV’s California offices with others joining through Zoom, requiring the two environments to function as a single communication system.
Implementing hybrid interpretation services required careful coordination of the interpreting equipment, audio connections, interpreters, and virtual event platform. The setup also needed to meet the portability demands of an unexpected facility tour, making flexibility an important part of the technical requirements.
Securing Subject Matter Proficient Interpreters
Finding specialized and experienced interpreters familiar with the technical vocabulary of the aerospace and defense sectors can be challenging, especially when working across multiple languages and dealing with unique project requirements.
For AV’s meetings with its Japanese partner, interpreters needed both the language expertise required for simultaneous interpreting and sufficient technical expertise to work effectively with specialized aerospace and defense terminology.
Offering A Portable Equipment Setup for Hybrid Interpreting
We used our sophisticated interpretation equipment to create an ideal simultaneous interpreting setup for the hybrid meetings. Wireless microphones, transmitters, and receivers were used for on-site audio pickup that fed directly into our interpreters’ headsets.
A professional-grade interpreter console and transmitter with language-switching functionality allowed interpreters to switch between languages instantly, which was essential to maintaining the real-time, back-and-forth communication flow.
While on-site participants were able to hear the interpretation using their headsets, our customized setup also transmitted the interpreters’ audio output directly to Zoom. This allowed remote attendees to listen to the interpretation through the platform’s Japanese language channel, creating seamless integration between the in-person and virtual environments.
The portability of the professional equipment was also important when an unforeseen facility tour emerged. Because the interpreting setup could be adapted to the changing environment, our proactive approach allowed the meetings to proceed without disruption.
Interpreter Selection
Drawing from our vast network of professional interpreters, our project management team was able to quickly source and assemble a team with the necessary experience in hybrid interpreting and AeroVironment’s terminology.
The interpreters’ familiarity with the subject matter, combined with their experience supporting hybrid meetings and remote participants, allowed us to meet the client’s specialized needs while upholding our accuracy standards.
Thanks to our experienced interpreters and flexible project management team, Language Connections ensured that AV’s meetings proceeded efficiently despite the technical and logistical challenges of the hybrid environment.
Our prior experience with hybrid interpreting, combined with significant expertise in procuring and deploying interpretation equipment, allowed us to create an effective solution for both on-site participants and remote attendees. The result was seamless multilingual communication between AV and its Japanese partner, despite participants joining from different locations.
The engagement demonstrates the importance of combining professional interpreters with intelligently deployed technology when supporting high-stakes multilingual meetings. Language Connections has continued to serve as a trusted provider of interpreting and translation services for AV for many years.
About Language Connections:
Language Connections is one of the top language service companies in the US. Over the last 30 years, we’ve focused on providing the best business translation services, interpreting services, as well as interpreter training and customized language training programs. In addition to top-tier corporate language training, we offer certified corporate interpreters and professional business translation services in 200+ languages. Our network includes linguists with backgrounds in all major industries. They’re ready to meet your needs, whether they’re for technical translation services, legal translation, government translation services, international development translation services, education translation services, life sciences translation, clinical study translation, or something else. Reach out to us today for a free quote on our cost-efficient and timely translation services, interpreters, or other linguistic services.
Language Connections Inc.
2001 Beacon Street, Suite 105,
Boston, MA 02135
Phone: +1-617-731-3510
Email: service@languageconnections.com
