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Volume I
Section 1.2: A Brief History of Remote Interpreting

The telephone and video technologies that make remote interpreting possible originated in the
1920s and 1930s. Some of the earliest attempts at remote interpreting date from that time. However,
modern remote interpreting technology and services really began with OPI in the 1970s, VRI in
the 1990s and 2000s and RSI in the 2010s.
The pandemic accelerated the development of all kinds of remote interpreting, which now make
up about half of all interpreting services provided.

As a remote interpreter, you will use the most current versions of the software and platforms that
make OPI, VRI and RSI possible. Having a basic understanding of what they are and how they
developed is important to your work. Read on for some fascinating history.

→ Section 1.2 Content

Key terms
Before diving into the history of remote interpreting, let’s first clarify a few key terms.

Every profession has its own lexicon, that is, the vocabulary used to describe key concepts for
that profession. Interpreting is a young, fast-growing global profession. Its vocabulary isn’t fully
established. Terms aren’t always used in consistent ways.

As a result, a few important terms need to be defined for this section to avoid confusion. Those
terms are mode, modality, face-to-face interpreting, remote interpreting and specialization.

Two terms that are often confused with each other are mode and modality. Both are critical to
understand. Let’s start with mode.

What is a mode?

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) defines mode as an “established method
for the delivery of spoken language interpreting…and signed language interpreting” (ISO, 2019b,
3.4.11).

A mode of interpreting is a way to convert or render the interpreted message. In other words, a
mode is how you transfer the meaning of a message into another language. The main interpreting
modes are consecutive, simultaneous and sight translation.
1
• In consecutive interpreting, you render the message into the target language (the language
that you interpret into) after the speaker or signer pauses.
• In simultaneous interpreting, you render the message while the speaker or signer is still
communicating—with a slight lag.
• Sight translation involves rendering a text into another language, either orally or in signed
language.

1 Some specialists, especially in Europe, do not consider sight translation a mode, but most interpreters do.

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