Zurich University
of Applied Sciences

Breaking down language barriers in public institutions

The Digilinguo platform aims to help people overcome language barriers in public institutions. The project is a collaboration between the ZHAW and the University of Zurich (UZH).

Zwei Frauen probieren eine VR-App aus.
ZHAW researcher Anne Catherine Gieshoff (left) has developed a VR app helping users practice interpreting in court and hospital settings. The head of an interpreting agency is testing the app.

There are many situations in which interpreting services may be needed. It could be an unexpected late-night birth where midwife and mother do not share a common language and no interpreter is available. It might be a police stop and search, or a person with a hearing impairment wanting to register at the local council office. Digilinguo was developed to provide support in situations where previously relatives, colleagues or even cleaning staff have previously been called upon to bridge language barriers in public institutions.

As a platform for research, training and networking, Digilinguo aims to develop sustainable approaches to the use of emerging technologies and promote the responsible use of digital tools. The goal is to build a centre of expertise for interpreter training centres and interpreter agencies, health services, the judiciary and researchers. The project is a collaboration between the ZHAW’s Institute of Multilingual Communication and the Department of Computational Linguistics at UZH. It is funded by the Digitalization Initiative of the Zurich Higher Education Institutions (DIZH).

Testing, training and dialogue

The platform will be built around three pillars. The first, which forms the foundation of Digilinguo, is a library of digital and AI-based tools that serves as a testing environment for evaluating new technologies. The second pillar is an online platform dedicated to the digitalisation of interpreter training. The third pillar consists of transdisciplinary forums in which participants assess needs and discuss the latest technological, legal and social developments.