Development of a Voice-Command, Belt-Mounted Translator for Law Enforcement

• NCJ Number: 171853
• Date Published: 1998
• Length: 87 pages
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)

Annotation

This report details the development and testing of a voice- command, belt-mounted translator for law enforcement.

Abstract

Integrated Wave Technologies, Inc. (IWT), worked from June 1, 1996, to March 30, 1998, to develop a voice response translator (VRT). The VRT, on voice command, produces pre- programmed phrases in various languages. This allows officers to identify the language spoken by a person, issue emergency commands to the person, and make inquiries to which a person could respond with hand signals. This system is designed for use in both hostile and non-hostile encounters with non-English- speaking persons. IWT has designed and built prototypes of the first belt-mounted, voice command translation unit. Prototypes for this program are approximately 5 inches by 5 inches by 2 inches, much smaller than any previous voice-command platform capable of the task. The VRT has completed initial evaluation by the Oakland Police Department (OPD). This has involved evaluating the phrases being used, the translation of the phrases, and the configuration of the hardware of the VRT. The project has succeeded in refining, to the greatest extent ever, scripts needed for communicating with foreign-language speakers using a computer-based translator. It has also resulted in the design of a computer optimized for police use that is both smaller and lighter than any previous unit. Further, it has demonstrated the highly developed capabilities of the Soviet-based voice- recognition system by operating in a high noise environment with virtually no externally induced audio-recognition errors. Appended listing of phrases used in the VRT