ViKiS Project
Video conference interpreting with integrated simultaneous interpreting
BMBF (German Federal Ministry of Education and Research), 1996-1998
ViKiS stands for video conferencing with integrated simultaneous interpreting. The project aimed at developing a video conferencing system that makes it possible to involve interpreters in bilingual video conferences (VC), the interpreters being geographically separated from the VC participants.
The project was based on the observation that existing VC systems were limited to interaction between VC participants only; the integration of interpreters had not yet been taken into consideration.
System development focused on the implementation of a a three-way, ISDN-based video conferencing system which included additional audio channels and special controls and management capabilities for participating interpreters. The project also looked at high-capacity technologies, such as ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode). Accompanying studies were carried out on the conditions and problems of communication and interpreting in a VC situation.
