ISO/IEC 23773-2:2024

Information technology - User interfaces for automatic simultaneous interpretation systems - Part 2: Requirements and functional description

This document provides user interface requirements and functional description of real-time automatic simultaneous interpretation systems designed to interoperate among different natural languages for spontaneous speech. While traditional speech to speech translation addresses the functional equivalent of consecutive interpretation, this document focuses on the functional equivalent of simultaneous interpretation. This document does not cover sign language interpretation.

Technologies de l'information — Interfaces utilisateur pour les systèmes d'interprétation simultanée automatique — Partie 2: Exigences et description fonctionnelle

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 15-Jul-2024
• ICS: 35.240.30 - IT applications in information, documentation and publishing
• Technical Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 35 - User interfaces
• Drafting Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 35 - User interfaces
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 16-Jul-2024
• Due Date: 11-Jun-2024
• Completion Date: 16-Jul-2024

Overview

ISO/IEC 23773-2:2024 is a key international standard specifying the user interface (UI) requirements and functional description for real-time automatic simultaneous interpretation systems. These systems are designed to facilitate communication across different natural languages during spontaneous speech, enabling near-instantaneous translation akin to simultaneous interpretation.

Unlike traditional speech-to-speech translation systems that focus on consecutive interpretation, this standard targets the unique challenges of simultaneous interpretation, emphasizing continuous, real-time translation. The document excludes sign language interpretation.

This standard is part of the broader ISO/IEC 23773 series focused on automatic simultaneous interpretation technology, ensuring interoperability and usability across different platforms and languages.

Key Topics

• User Interface Requirements:

  • Input can be in text or speech form; output is produced in the target language as text or spoken speech.
  • Support for continuous, automatic simultaneous interpretation of user input without delay.
  • Optional features include multi-user sessions, adding participants dynamically, source and target language selection, and user preference settings.
  • Translation results should ideally be delivered within 3 seconds after a user’s utterance ends.
  • Speech output may reflect speaker characteristics such as gender, pitch, power, and emotion.

• User Device Requirements:

  • Devices must support both input and output functions suitable for simultaneous interpretation.
  • Optional ease-of-use features include confirmation signals for session participation and quick operation initiation within 3 minutes.

• Accessibility Requirements:

  • Essential accessibility functions include allowing input and output in both text and speech form.
  • Optional features include multi-modal interfaces (text, touch, gesture) and user preference settings tailored for accessibility.
  • Support for providing translation results in controlled language to improve comprehension, enhancing usability for people with specific needs.

• Functional UI Components:

  • Setup Function: Enables users to start interpretation sessions, select languages, and configure output preferences (speech, text, or both).
  • Input/Output Function: Manages real-time speech and text input as well as translation output, linking to core system modules like speech recognition and translation engines.
  • Correction/Selection Function: Allows users to correct errors in recognition or interpretation through keyboard, gesture, or voice commands. While primarily for system improvement and testing, this feedback loop enhances ongoing accuracy.
  • Accessibility Features: Provide multi-modal input/output capabilities to support users with disabilities, enhancing inclusivity in international communication.

Applications

ISO/IEC 23773-2:2024 is crucial for developers, vendors, and users of automatic simultaneous interpretation systems deployed in:

• Multilingual video conferencing and calls: Facilitating seamless communication during global meetings.
• Live translation for lectures and seminars: Enabling real-time understanding for international audiences.
• Wearable translation devices: Providing on-the-go, real-time interpretation for travelers and field workers.
• Global event management: Supporting multilingual interactions during conferences, trade fairs, and forums.
• Telecommunication services: Enhancing customer support and communication across language barriers.

This standard helps ensure that UIs for these systems are consistent, user-friendly, and accessible, meeting international expectations for functionality, responsiveness, and inclusivity.

Related Standards

• ISO/IEC 23773-1: General description of automatic simultaneous interpretation systems, offering foundational definitions and concepts.
• ISO/IEC 23773-3: Reference architecture outlining high-level functional modules and communication interfaces critical to simultaneous interpretation systems.
• ISO/TS 24620-1: Provides definitions and guidelines for controlled languages, which ISO/IEC 23773-2 suggests using to improve translation clarity and accessibility.

Conclusion

ISO/IEC 23773-2:2024 establishes comprehensive UI requirements and functional descriptions for automatic simultaneous interpretation systems, focusing on real-time, multi-language, spontaneous speech translation. By addressing user interface design, device capabilities, and accessibility considerations, this standard supports the development of effective, inclusive, and interoperable interpretation solutions that meet the increasing global demand for instantaneous multilingual communication.

Standards Content (Sample)

International
Standard
ISO/IEC 23773-2
First edition
Information technology —
2024-07
User interfaces for automatic
simultaneous interpretation
systems —
Part 2:
Requirements and functional
description
Technologies de l'information — Interfaces utilisateur pour les
systèmes d'interprétation simultanée automatique —
Partie 2: Exigences et description fonctionnelle
Reference number
© ISO/IEC 2024
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
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ISO copyright office
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© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Abbreviated terms . 1
5 Functional requirements . 1
5.1 User interface (UI) requirements .1
5.1.1 General .1
5.1.2 Required .2
5.1.3 Optional .2
5.2 User device requirements .2
5.2.1 General .2
5.2.2 Required .2
5.2.3 Optional .2
5.3 Accessibility requirements .2
5.3.1 General .2
5.3.2 Required .2
5.3.3 Optional .3
6 Functional components of UI of automatic simultaneous interpretation systems . 3
6.1 General .3
6.2 UI functional component .3
6.2.1 General .3
6.2.2 Setup function of the initial interpretation environments .3
6.2.3 Input and output function of the interpretation system .3
6.2.4 Correction/selection function of speech recognition/interpretation results .4
6.3 Accessibility functional component .4
6.3.1 General .4
6.3.2 Multi-modal input functions .4
6.3.3 Multi-modal output functions .4
6.3.4 Speech input and output functions .4
6.3.5 Accessibility functions for the application UI .4
6.3.6 Simple language or controlled language function .4
6.4 Simultaneous interpretation application functional component .5
Bibliography . 6

© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are
members of ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical
committees established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity.
ISO and IEC technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations,
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The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/
IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives or www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs).
ISO and IEC draw attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the
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In the IEC, see www.iec.ch/understanding-standards.
This document was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 35, User interfaces.
A list of all parts in the ISO/IEC 23773 series can be found on the ISO and IEC websites.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards
body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html and
www.iec.ch/national-committees.

© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
iv
Introduction
Communication between users of different languages is a global trend that is increasing. Real-time, automatic
simultaneous interpretation is needed for different applications such as video calls, live lecture translation
and wearable translation devices. Market demands for real-time automatic simultaneous interpretation
of free-style continuous utterances in the travel sector, global event management, phone calls, lectures or
meetings are also increasing. A standardized user interface (UI) for automatic simultaneous interpretation
systems fulfils these different needs for communication.
The ISO/IEC 23773 series consists of the following parts:
ISO/I
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