Microsoft Teams has launched bidirectional translation support for interpreters.
The feature enables interpreters to switch between the direction of language translation at the touch of a button without disrupting the speaker’s delivery.
This allows one interpreter to provide translation services both ways in a conversation, avoiding the necessity of hiring a second interpreter to manage the opposite flow of translation.
Currently, users of bidirectional translation support must be members of the Microsoft 365 targeted release program on Windows or macOS or Teams Public Preview.
Jan Steberl, Teams Program Manager at Microsoft, outlines some of the key benefits for those leveraging this new capability in a Microsoft Tech Community blog post: “I’m excited to share that an interpreter can now switch the translation direction between two languages in Microsoft Teams with the click of a button."
This allows for more efficient real-time translation using just one interpreter, greatly simplifying the process.”
Microsoft explains that live language interpretations can be added to non-encrypted meetings in Teams.
Bidirectional support for language interpretation gives interpreters the ability to change languages by choosing an indicator on their Teams screen.
The new feature works by sending interpreters a notification that draws their attention to the language translation indicator at the bottom of their screen.
The language that the interpreter is interpreting will be highlighted in the indicator.
To change the language they wish to translate into, interpreters simply need to click on the name of the other language that they would like to translate, which is located beside the current language highlighted in the indicator.
Interpreters can continue switching between the two directions of language translation as often as they like.
