Faculté de traduction et d'interprétation Faculté de traduction et d'interprétation

CfP

The FTI & ILO invite submissions for their co-hosted conference on 100 years of technology in interpreting. We welcome contributions from researchers, practitioners, policy makers and advanced graduate students. The program will include:

  • Poster Presentations (interactive, visual format)
  • Short Talks (grouped by theme, followed by Q&A)

We encourage work in progress, completed studies, methodological innovations, theoretical contributions, case studies, and interdisciplinary perspectives relevant to the technological changes that have marked the last 100 years of conference interpreting.

 

Topics of Interest

Submissions may address (but are not limited to):

AI and Speech Technologies in Interpreting

  • Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) for live events and booths
  • Machine translation (MT) and “speech-to-speech” systems: capabilities, limitations, realistic use cases
  • Human–AI collaboration: interpreter-in-the-loop workflows
  • Quality metrics for speech translation and interpreting-like outputs
  • Prompting, customization, and domain adaptation for interpreting contexts
  • Error typologies and risk management (hallucinations, omissions, numerals, named entities)

 

Computer-Assisted Interpreting (CAI) Tools and Workflows

  • Glossary tools, term extraction, and terminology management in real time
  • Digital note-taking tools for consecutive interpreting
  • On-the-fly documentation access: search, retrieval, and information triage
  • Tool interoperability (CAT/terminology systems & interpreting platforms)
  • Cognitive ergonomics of CAI: attention, load, and interface design
  • Training interpreters to use CAI tools effectively (and safely)

 

Remote Simultaneous Interpreting (RSI) Platforms and Delivery Models

  • Platform features and their effect on interpreting performance and user experience
  • Audio/video latency, stability, and its impact on turn-taking and accuracy
  • New event formats: hybrid meetings, multilingual webinars, distributed teams
  • Booth-based vs home-based setups: constraints, benefits, and best practices
  • Team interpreting in remote settings: coordination, handover, and chat backchannels
  • Platform procurement and evaluation criteria for organizers and institutions

 

Audio, Acoustics, and Signal Quality

  • Microphone types and configurations; speaker behavior and audio hygiene
  •  Noise suppression, echo cancellation, and audio enhancement: benefits and pitfalls
  • Standards and requirements for “interpreter-grade” audio
  • Speech intelligibility, compression artifacts, and channel separation
  • Listener experience vs interpreter needs: aligning technical priorities
  • Monitoring tools and protocols for audio quality assurance

 

Human Factors, Cognitive Load, and Occupational Health

  • Ergonomics in tech-mediated interpreting: fatigue, attention, and stress
  • Screen work, visual load, and multi-channel monitoring
  • Workstation design: lighting, posture, acoustics, equipment choices
  • Burnout, isolation, and psychosocial impacts of remote work
  • Break schedules and staffing models with new technologies
  • Evidence-based recommendations for safer and sustainable working conditions

 

Interaction Design and User Experience for all Stakeholders

  • Interface design for interpreters (controls, feedback, alerts, terminology display)
  • Interface design for listeners (channel selection, accessibility, multilingual UX)
  • The role of moderators/technicians and their interfaces
  • Accessibility features: captions, transcripts, multilingual accessibility
  • Inclusive design for diverse user groups (hearing impairment, low bandwidth, mobile)
  • Managing speaker, chair, and audience behavior through design and guidance

 

Quality Evaluation and Assurance in Technology-Mediated Interpreting

  • Defining “quality” across stakeholders: interpreters, listeners, clients, institutions
  • Evaluation methods: perception studies, corpus-based analyses, field experiments
  • Quality assurance processes for events (technical rehearsals, monitoring, incident logs)
  • Service-level agreements (SLAs), KPIs, and procurement metrics
  • Interpreting in high-stakes settings: risk tolerance and escalation protocols
  • Post-event review: what data to capture, how to learn, and how to improve

 

Ethics, Privacy, and Governance

  • Data protection and confidentiality in online platforms and AI systems
  • Recording, transcription, and storage policies; consent and transparency
  • Bias, fairness, and representativeness in speech/translation technologies
  • Accountability: who is responsible when tech fails?
  • Professional ethics and codes in the era of AI-mediated interpreting
  • Governance models for institutions and organizers adopting new tools

 

Policy, Procurement, and Organizational Decision-Making

  • Cost models and the true costs of tech adoption (equipment, training, support)
  • Procurement frameworks: evaluating platforms, vendors, and AI tools
  • Decision-making in institutions: compliance, security, and continuity planning
  • Change management and stakeholder alignment (interpreters, IT, organizers, users)
  • Contracting and labor considerations in new delivery modes
  • Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for multilingual events

 

Training, Competence, and Professional Development

  • Updating interpreter education curricula for RSI/CAI/AI realities
  • Competency frameworks: technical literacy, risk management, tool fluency
  • Simulation-based training, labs, and remote practicum models
  • Assessment of technology-related competencies
  • Trainer preparedness and institutional support
  • Lifelong learning: micro-credentials, CPD models, peer learning communities

 

Future Directions and Emerging Applications

  • Multimodal and context-aware interpreting support
  • Wearables, smart booths, and new hardware for audio/control
  • Real-time analytics and dashboards for event quality and multilingual access
  • Community and participatory design with interpreters and listeners
  • Interpreting in VR/AR or immersive environments
  • Environmental sustainability and “green conferencing” implications

 

Submission format(s)

A) Poster Presentations

Posters will be featured in dedicated sessions with ample time for discussion. Posters are ideal for:

  • early-stage or exploratory research
  • datasets/tools/resources
  • replication studies
  • null/negative results
  • student projects and lab showcases

Poster size & setup details will be provided upon acceptance.

 

B) Short Paper Presentations

Short talks are designed to highlight key ideas and findings concisely. Each accepted talk includes:

  • 10-15 minutes presentation time
  • Q&A (session-dependent)

Talks are appropriate for focused empirical findings, theoretical arguments, or methodological contributions that can be communicated clearly in a brief format.

 

Note: Submitting to the Short Paper track does not guarantee an oral slot. The program committee may recommend some submissions for poster presentation to accommodate scheduling and ensure a balanced program.

 

Submission Requirements

 

Submissions are accepted in English, French or Spanish 

Abstract (extended)

  • Length: 800–1’000 words (excluding references)
  •  Include: 
    • Title
    • Background
    • Aim
    • Research question(s)
    • Methods
    • Results (or expected results)
    • Contribution/implications
  • References: up to 10, APA format

 

Anonymity

For the review process, please remove author names, affiliations, and self-identifying references in the submission file.

 

File Format

  • .DOCX only
  • Use standard margins and a legible font (e.g., 11–12 pt)

 

Review Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated on:

  • relevance to conference theme/topics
  • originality and significance
  • methodological or conceptual rigor (as appropriate)
  • clarity and organization
  • contribution to scholarly discussion and diversity of perspectives

 

How to Submit

Submit your abstract here: Submission platform opens on 15 March, 2026