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Interpreting Technologies – Current and Future Trends
Edited by Gloria Corpas Pastor and Bart Defrancq
[IVITRA Research in Linguistics and Literature 37] 2023
► pp. 109–141

Chapter 5
Public service interpreters’ perceptions and acceptance of remote interpreting technologies in times of a pandemic

| Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium |
| Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium | Universidad de Alcalá, Spain |
| Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium |
In the past two decades, the use of technology in the professional practice of interpreting has evolved at an impressive pace. The fast development of communication and digital technologies has led to profound changes in how interpreting services are delivered. In this study, we present the results of a questionnaire study into public service interpreters’ perceptions and acceptance of remote interpreting technologies (RITs). The survey was conducted through an online questionnaire containing both closed and open-ended questions, and taps into public service interpreters’ use of remote interpreting technologies, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use of these technologies and interpreters’ acceptance of the technologies in different settings of PSI.
Keywords: remote interpreting technologies, over-the-phone interpreting, PSI, public service interpreting, survey, remote simultaneous interpreting, technology acceptance, video remote interpreting
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Related studies
  • 3.Research questions and methodology
    • 3.1Scope of the study
    • 3.2Questionnaire preparation
    • 3.3Questionnaire distribution
  • 4.Results
    • 4.1Demographic and professional profile
    • 4.2RIT use
      • 4.2.1User percentage and tools
      • 4.2.2Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on RIT use
      • 4.2.3Frequency of use
      • 4.2.4Fields of expertise and RIT use
      • 4.2.5Reasons for not using RIT
    • 4.3RIT acceptance
      • 4.3.1Perceived usefulness
        • 4.3.1.1OPI
        • 4.3.1.2VRI
        • 4.3.1.3RSI
      • 4.3.2Perceived ease of use
        • 4.3.2.1OPI
        • 4.3.2.2VRI
        • 4.3.2.3RSI
      • 4.3.4Behavioral intention
    • 4.4Participants’ comments
  • 5.Discussion
    • 5.1RIT use and impact of COVID 19
    • 5.2RIT use and fields of expertise
    • 5.3Reasons for not using RIT
    • 5.4RIT acceptance
  • 6.Conclusion
  • 7.Limitations and further research
  • Notes
  • References
  • Appendix
Published online: 9 October 2023
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/ivitra.37.05ste
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