Tablet InterpretingTips, tools and applications to make

the most of your tablet while interpreting

#tab1nt

Alexander Drechsel Josh Goldsmithalex@adrechsel.de jg@joshgoldsmith.com@tabterp @Goldsmith_Josh

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IntroductionsJosh Goldsmith

● EU-accredited conference interpreter based in Geneva

● PhD candidate focusing on interpreting, technology and education

● Lover of all things tech

Alexander Drechsel

● Staff interpreter at European Commission in Brussels

● Tablet nerd● Writes about interpreting● Podcaster (LangFM, The

Troublesome Terps)

What we’ll cover● Overview of tablet market: hardware/software● Styluses and accessories● What to look for when buying an application / tablet / stylus● Preparation and file management● Using tablets for consecutive● Using tablets in the booth● Further reading and other resources● Q&A

Learning objectives● Gain an overview of tablet hardware, software and accessories ● Learn strategies for tablet use during preparation, consecutive and

simultaneous● Learn about leading applications for tablet interpreting● See a demonstration of how to use a tablet for consecutive● Walk away with additional resources to learn more

Market overview

Apple iPad

● Introduced in 2010● Pros & cons of “Apple-only”● 7.9” - Mini● 9.7” - Air 2 / Pro● 12.9” - Pro● Wifi / 4G● ~ 1 million tablet apps● Multitasking● Security

Android

● Google operating system● Open source● Manufacturers: Samsung, Asus,

Lenovo, HTC, Dell● Promising: Lenovo Yoga Book● Variety of sizes and form factors● Weak on tablet-specific apps● Issue of (security) updates (“Nexus”)● Chromebooks with Android support

Windows

● Windows 10● "The tablet that can replace your

laptop"● Microsoft Surface, 3rd-party

manufacturers (sizes/form factors)● Full desktop OS, few

touch-optimised apps● Full multitasking● Privacy issues

Styluses and accessories for tablet interpreting

StylusesActive:

● Battery-powered● Usually connect via Bluetooth● Device can differentiate between stylus

and finger; interpreter can rest palm on screen

● Device manufacturers provide tightest integration: Apple Pencil (iPad Pro), Samsung S-Pen (Note devices)

● Examples: Pencil by FiftyThree, Wacom Intuos Creative, Adonit JotScript 2

Passive:

● Simulates a finger● No battery required● Sometimes combined with applications

that offer palm rejection● Sometimes offer a programmable

button (undo, redo, erase, change ink color, etc.)

● Examples: Bamboo CS series, Cosmonaut by Studio Neat, Maglus

Other accessories for tablet interpretingExternal battery

Charger and charging cables

External keyboard

Devices to integrate USB/SD card storage (RavPower)

What to look for when buyinga tablet, application or stylus

Features to consider when buying a tablet

Features to consider when buying an app (consec)

Features to consider when buying a stylus

File management and preparation

Readdle Documents

Infolio

Scanbot, Scanner Plus

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote - free for basic use)

iPad

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Clean File Manager

Scanbot, CamScanner

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint - free for basic use)

Google Docs/Sheets/Slides

WPS Office (file management + office)

Android

Using tablets for consecutive

Note-taking recommendations (based on Gillies 2005)

Notepad should:

● Be large enough for clear notes, yet small enough to carry around

● Have plain pages, faint grid lines, or margin line

● Be bound, so pages turn easily and never get lost

● Have a firm back, so you can take notes while standing up

This is all possible with tablets!

Notes should be:

● Taken vertically● Organized into chunks; completed

chunks should be marked● Written on only one side of the paper

Writing utensil should:

● Write quickly● Not smudge

Demo:Consecutive tablet interpreting

Recommended note-taking appsiPad:

Noteshelf

Notability

Android:

Bamboo Paper

Squid (formerly Papyrus)

Pros and cons of tablet interpreting (1)Technical advantages Technical disadvantages

Access to reference materials Battery life

Button with extra features in stylus Crashes

Cloud backup and accessibility Inadvertently hit menu buttons?

Cut and paste Multiple cables needed

Email, print and embed notes Need to prepare equipment

Eraser

Internet connectivity

Password protection

Split screen

Unlimited ink and paper

Excerpted from Goldsmith & Holley (2015)

Pros and cons of tablet interpreting (2)Visual advantages Visual disadvantages

Custom paper Difficult to find place when scrolling

Multiple ink colors + pen styles Hard to see in some conditions

Variety of paper types Inaccurate / imprecise writing

Vertical scrolling Stray marks

Zoom (increase writing size)

Zoom (see multiple pages at once)

Physical advantages Physical disadvantages

Less cumbersome Cumbersome when standing, moving

Lightweight and small Different writing positions

Excerpted from Goldsmith & Holley (2015)

Pros and cons of tablet interpreting (3)Client relations - advantages Client relations - disadvantages

Impresses clients Confidentiality concerns

Sets interpreter aside as memorable Clients mistrust/unfamiliar with technology

Looks more professional Clients fear interpreter unfocused/cheating

Less noticeable page turns

Quieter than paper

Other advantages Other disadvantages

Environmentally friendly Additional stress (fear of crashing/breaking)

Facilitates preparation Cost + learning curve

Store + organize notes Possible distraction

Excerpted from Goldsmith & Holley (2015)

Using tablets in the booth

Terminology and glossariesExcel/Word

Google Sheets for collaborative glossary-building

Interplex

Interpreters’ Help

Dictionaries and reference materialsLinguee

WordReference

IATE

WikiLinks

Further reading and other resources

Further readingThe Tablet Interpreter manual: http://www.tabletinterpreter.eu

Consecutive 2.0: How to use your tablet for consecutive interpreting

Goldsmith, J. & Holley, J. (2015). “Consecutive interpreting 2.0: The tablet interpreting experience.” Unpublished MA thesis, University of Geneva.

Drechsel, A. & Goldsmith, J. (forthcoming). Tablet Interpreting: The evolution and uses of mobile devices in interpreting. In H. Lee-Jahnke (Ed.), CIUTI-Forum 2016. Bern, Switzerland: Peter Lang.

Wagener, L. (2014). “Conference Preparation 2.0” aiic.net. Retrieved from http://aiic.net/page/6650/conference-preparation-2-0/lang/1

Costa, Hernani, Corpas Pastor, Gloria & Durán Muñoz, Isabel (2014): “A Comparative User Evaluation of Terminology Management Tools for Interpreters”, in: Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Computational Terminology, pp. 68–76. Retrieved from http://www.aclweb.org/anthology/W14-4809.

Other resources for productivity, freelancing and security

Tunnelbear and Cloak - use public WiFi safely with VPN technology

Freshbooks - online client management and invoicing

Toggl + Hours - time-tracking apps

Your feedback on this webinar:

http://bit.ly/ProzTabTerpWebinar

Thank you!Josh Goldsmith

Joshua.Goldsmith@unige.ch

jg@joshgoldsmith.com

@Goldsmith_Josh

Alex Drechsel

alex@adrechsel.de

@tabterp

Questions & Answers