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NIJ Review

NIJ Review. Voice Response Translator Report. Roger Miller Tactical/Technical Trainer North Carolina Justice Academy RMiller@NCDOJ.gov / (828) 685-3600 ext. 211. Voice Response Translator. Background Developed by Integrated Wave Technologies (IWT)

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NIJ Review

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  1. NIJ Review Voice Response Translator Report Roger Miller Tactical/Technical Trainer North Carolina Justice Academy RMiller@NCDOJ.gov / (828) 685-3600 ext. 211

  2. Voice Response Translator • Background • Developed by Integrated Wave Technologies (IWT) • Based on funding originating in 1996 from NIJ • Originally tested by the Oakland Police Dept. • Final grant ended (2004-IJ-CX-K042) in 2006

  3. Voice Response Translator • Description • Uses a unique voice recognition algorithm that is able to recognize an officer’s voice with near 100% accuracy even in high background noise environments • On voice command, produces pre-programmed phrases in various languages • Designed for use in both hostile and non-hostile encounters with non-English speaking persons.

  4. Voice Response Translator • Application • VRT was developed to meet the need of law enforcement and corrections to have an effective audio translation capability • Officers identify the language spoken by a person • Issues emergency commands to the person • Makes inquiries to which a person could respond with head and hand movements.

  5. Costs $3,200.00 a unit 5 yr replacement warranty Future upgrades Unlimited on-site training Includes Module w/ megaphone Power chargers Blackhawk duffel bag Module carrying case Training disc Laminate voice chart Voice Response Translator

  6. Voice Response Translator • NIJ/IWT partnership with the North Carolina Justice Academy • Three units provided by IWT for evaluation starting December 2006 • Purpose • Test the accuracy and reliability of the VRT • Examine the ability for law enforcement and corrections officials to easily use the unit in the day-to-day performance of their duties

  7. Voice Response Translator • Strategy • Determined that three different sized agencies would present the best avenue for evaluation (all volunteers) • Initial sites included • Laurel Park PD (small) • Raleigh Durham Airport Police (medium) • Fayetteville PD (large) • Evaluation period 30 – 45 days

  8. Voice Response Translator • Results of deployment • Smaller agency • Minimal use of the device, even though they have a large population of non-English speaking residents • Agency has a multi-language speaking officer on staff • Inability to deploy the unit due to lack of manpower availability (person having unit was not able to respond to scene)

  9. Voice Response Translator • Results of deployment (cont.) • Medium/large sized agencies • Unit was actively deployed in situations involving suspected criminal activity • Alarm calls, vehicle stops, cultural gatherings, public service events, property collection, securing of equipment • Languages used included Spanish, Dari Farsi, Kurdish, Mandarin, Korean and Vietnamese.

  10. Voice Response Translator • Findings • Officers were surprised at how efficient the unit was in loud noise environments • Several officers felt that it was the next best thing to an interpreter • Officers were comforted by knowing they had an outlet to continue their interaction with subjects when no other interpreter options existed

  11. Voice Response Translator • Findings • Two of the units had a unique ‘bug’ or malfunction where the unit wouldn’t power off. • This was resolved by plugging the unit into the power charger and cycling it off/on. • This was replicated more than once (four times total on two different units)

  12. Voice Response Translator • Findings • Most officers agreed that the unit was best used during times of minimal safety risks. • Attention was diverted on how to properly use the device versus focusing on their suspect / complainant • This can be credited to their lack of familiarity with the VRT • Interviews with officers indicated that in most cases they waited until the last minute to ‘train’ the VRT

  13. Voice Response Translator • Findings • Most officers felt that the VRT took too long to program • Per officers, it took approximately 45 minutes to set it up for one officer • Difficulty getting the unit to recognize voice pattern to change to the desired language

  14. Voice Response Translator • Findings • Reliability in relaying the correct commanded phrase • Officer would say “under arrest” and “Spread legs” phrase would initiate • Officer would have to continually repeat phrases to get an appropriate response • This frustrated officers and led to the unit not being used due to time, and an interpreting being called instead.

  15. Voice Response Translator • Evaluations • All feedback from the unit was gathered through: • Interviews conducted by NCJA with officers • Daily Participant VRT Log (developed by IWT)

  16. Duty Description (traffic, patrol, etc…) Day of work week Type of situation/event and language used Was response to VRT positive, negative, indifferent Description of environment Any situation / events and language if the VRT could have been used but wasn’t Problems with unit Voice Response Translator Daily Participant VRT Log (Developed by IWT)

  17. Voice Response Translator • Lessons learned • Based on the first phase of evaluations, the following changes will be made: • When VRT is given to the agency, they will appoint a specific “head trainer” who will be responsible for the unit • Directed to individually train each of the people selected to use the unit • Watch the DVD-ROM provided • Conduct a practical exercise to ensure proper understanding of the equipment

  18. Voice Response Translator • Lessons learned • Instead of varying the amount of people who will use the VRT, specifically train up to eight total officers to use the unit during the 30 day evaluation period. • This can be accomplished by the “head trainer” or when NCJA delivers the unit, the selected individuals and “head trainer” are all present to learn and populate the unit at the same time

  19. Voice Response Translator • Next Step • The second phase will incorporate evaluations from law enforcement and correctional settings. • Agencies to be used include: • Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department • Mecklenburg County Detention Facility • Hendersonville Police Department

  20. Voice Response Translator National Institute of Justice http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/ Integrated Wave Technologies http://www.i-w-t.com/ North Carolina Justice Academy http://www.jus.state.nc.us/NCJA/ Questions? Roger D. Miller Tactical/Technical Trainer North Carolina Justice Academy RMiller@NCDOJ.gov (828)685-3600 ext. 211

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