A Digital Bridge for Sign Language Interpreters” led by Laura Lesmana Wijaya and Ailing Xiao.

Deaf interpreters have long relied on human support—whether feed interpreters or live captioners—to carry out their work effectively, especially in International Sign contexts. But what happens when those supports aren’t available? Increasingly, deaf interpreters and second-language English users are exploring the possibilities of AI-generated captions as a tool to support their work and improve communication access. — Deaf interpreters have long relied on human support—whether feed interpreters or live captioners—to carry out their work effectively, especially in International Sign contexts. But what happens when those supports aren’t available? Increasingly, deaf interpreters and second-language English users are exploring the possibilities of **AI-generated captions** as a tool to support their work and improve communication access.

Exploring Real-World Use and Future Possibilities

This session will dive into how AI captions are already being used by interpreters—and how they could evolve. Using real-life examples and a detailed case study, the presentation will explore how tools like Zoom and MS Teams are being adapted to meet interpreter needs through features like:

Auto-correct
Speaker recognition
Personalisation options (e.g., background colour, text size)
Cross-platform integration

A Balanced View: Opportunities and Challenges

AI technology brings new possibilities, but it also has limits. Captions often fail to recognise tone, multiple speakers, or non-standard accents, and they can struggle with technical vocabulary or emotionally complex content. This session doesn’t shy away from those issues—it proposes practical improvements like:

Improved multilingual detection
Recognition of fragmented or overlapping dialogue
Personalisation tools to support diverse needs
Recognition of emotional context
Customisable technical term libraries

More Than Just Access

This isn’t about replacing humans—it’s about supporting interpreters and enhancing access. Attendees will see how AI captions are being used by both deaf and hearing professionals, as well as by interpreters who work in English as a second language. Unlike traditional accessibility captions, this approach focuses on performance and precision, creating better conditions for interpretation and communication.

👥 About the Presenters

Laura Lesmana WijayaBorn into a deaf family in Jakarta, Laura is a researcher, educator, and advocate for deaf empowerment. She leads the Sign Language Centre in Indonesia (Pusbisindo), which has grown to 15 branches and supported over 100 deaf instructors. Her work focuses on education, mental health, and community development, and she currently leads interpreter development efforts across Indonesia.

Ailing XiaoOriginally from China and now based in Spain, Ailing is a sign language interpreter, multilingual coordinator, and trainer. With experience in Chinese Sign Language, International Sign, English, and Chinese, she specialises in interpreting policy and planning. Her work supports interpreter education and BIPOC-led initiatives, with a focus on international collaboration.

Don’t miss this forward-thinking session at #SignProfConf2025!📅 Saturday, 28th June 2025🔗 Book tickets & see the full schedule: https://www.thetogetherconference.co.uk/tickets2025