--- title: "Daily Buzz: How Tech Can Improve Meeting Translation Services" id: "46740" type: "post" slug: "daily-buzz-how-tech-can-improve-meeting-translation-services" published_at: "2019-05-29T21:29:47+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-17T01:21:02+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/05/29/daily-buzz-how-tech-can-improve-meeting-translation-services/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/05/29/daily-buzz-how-tech-can-improve-meeting-translation-services.md" excerpt: "To participate in your conference, some attendees might require translators. New translating innovations can build on—and not detract from—the experience. Also: The ROI behind content marketing." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Accessibility" - "AssociationsNow" - "Meetings" - "Technology" - "translation services" - "Virtual Reality" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Daily Buzz: How Tech Can Improve Meeting Translation Services The first step in hosting accessible meetings is often making sure every attendee can communicate effectively. Now, advances in artificial intelligence and virtual reality are making translation services easier. For example, an AI tool from Google, nicknamed Translatotron, stands to break down barriers between attendees who speak different languages, while also providing planners with less costly translation services. “Attendees requiring translation services will wear a headset, just like with a human interpreter, but add a microphone and the same software can interpret their questions for the speaker at the end of the session,” [says Hannah Kinnersley on MeetingsNet (opens in a new tab)](https://www.meetingsnet.com/event-tech/ai-and-vr-will-revolutionize-communication-events) . “Another advantage for the attendee will be that the system is like having a personal interpreter, so it could be used at networking events and small breakout sessions.” Although the technolgy is still in the testing phase, Kinnersley points out that, like human interpreters, it still faces the challenge of learning specialized industry terms and nuances. “But once a program has been optimized in, for example, aerospace engineering, it is available for as many events as required, the expertise is never lost or retired, and it can learn new terms and examples at each conference,” she says. Similarly, VR innovations, such as Microsoft’s HoloLens goggles, could also improve the event experience for deaf attendees. “Adaptations of this type of system could solve one of the main issues deaf people encounter when presentations are signed: In order to see the signing, audience members must take their eyes off the speaker and any presentation materials,” she says. ### Content Marketing, ROI, and Time https://twitter.com/marketo/status/1133546026273529858 **What do ROI calculations look like for content marketing?** It’s a complicated question, [says Robert Rose from the Content Marketing Institute (opens in a new tab)](https://contentmarketinginstitute.com/2019/05/real-roi-content/) , and one that doesn’t come with a clear formula. Instead, the answer focuses on time. “Marketing campaigns are a cost that provide value at a moment *in time*,” he says. “The content marketing opportunity … is an asset-focused investment that, if done well, provides increasing value *over time*.” Although this line of thinking might change the way you approach ROI, Rose says looking at content marketing as a long-term business asset will better guide the conversation, as well as give a more accurate view of your strategy’s effectiveness. ### Other Links of Note **Volunteers want to engage** with an organization where they can make a difference. But [uninspiring recruitment ads might be sending the opposite message (opens in a new tab)](https://blogs.volunteermatch.org/engagingvolunteers/2019/05/28/those-adjectives-that-turn-off-prospective-volunteers/) , says the VolunteerMatch blog. **Attendees who learn together** implement what they learn together, says Sarah Michel on the Velvet Chainsaw blog. That means [meetings should be designed with collaboration in mind (opens in a new tab)](https://velvetchainsaw.com/2019/05/28/if-you-build-it-will-teams-come/) . **Is your association data-driven or data-informed?** [CMSWire explains the difference (opens in a new tab)](https://www.cmswire.com/digital-experience/is-your-company-data-driven-or-data-informed/) . (mrPliskin/iStock/Getty Images Plus) [Jeff Hsin](https://associationsnow.com/author/jeff-hsin/) [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/jeff-hsin/) Tags: [#Accessibility](https://associationsnow.com/tag/accessibility/) [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/) [#Technology](https://associationsnow.com/tag/technology/) [#translation services](https://associationsnow.com/tag/translation-services/) [#Virtual Reality](https://associationsnow.com/tag/virtual-reality/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Contract: Building Stronger Destination PartnershipsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-contract-building-stronger-destination-partnerships/) - [VideoMelvin Tennant, CAE, President & CEO of Meet Minneapolis, Welcomes You to Great Ideas 2026September 2, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/02/melvin-tennant-cae-president-ceo-of-meet-minneapolis-welcomes-you-to-great-ideas-2026/) - [VideoASAE TV Daily Recap: Final Day at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/24/asae-tv-daily-recap-final-day-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2019%2F05%2F29%2Fdaily-buzz-how-tech-can-improve-meeting-translation-services%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !