Remote Simultaneous Interpreting (RSI) platforms enable interpreters to provide their services remotely

and work from various locations. However, despite its rising prominence, interpreters often perceive

RSI as more challenging than on-site interpreting (Buján and Collard, 2022). Whilst insufficient audio

quality has regularly been cited as a source of problems in RSI (Braun, 2019), the visual dimension of

RSI has received little attention in research. Previous studies have highlighted interpreters’ feelings of

isolation and alienation in RSI (Moser-Mercer, 2003) and have pointed to the importance of the

interpreters’ sense of presence in RSI (Mouzourakis, 2006; Ziegler and Gigliobianco, 2018), but they

have not yet comprehensively explored the contribution of visual aspects of RSI to this. The shift from

booth-based to cloud/software-based RSI, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, has,

however, raised significant questions about the design of the visual interface of RSI platforms, and its

impact on RSI.

This project therefore addresses the underexplored visual dimension of RSI platforms, specifically the

visual interface design, the interpreter’s view of the speaker, and the integration of Automatic Speech

Recognition (ASR) in the RSI interface. By investigating how these elements impact interpreters' user

experience and perceptions of performance, the study aims to inform the design and customisation of

RSI platforms to align with interpreters' preferences, needs, and skills.

The study used a mixed-methods approach, which combines a comprehensive literature review, focus

group discussions, an experimental study involving 29 professional interpreters, and post-experiment

interviews with nine of these participants.

The findings reveal that different visual elements within RSI platforms contribute differently to interpreter

user experience. For instance, speaker views play a pivotal role in helping interpreters understand the

speaker's message, while elements such as presentations and ASR support aid interpreters in

comprehending complex content, particularly technical terminology and numerical data. Experienced

interpreters exhibit more critical scrutiny of visual features, while less experienced interpreters express

a more positive outlook on ASR and minimal interfaces. Additionally, the study identifies broader

challenges that impede the adoption of RSI, including technical support issues, sound quality concerns,

and social challenges, offering insights for enhancing RSI practices.