The Leading News & Information Service For The Facilities, Workplace & Built Environment Community

Speech to Text Technology Could Help Communication Whilst Wearing a Face Mask

Speech to Text Technology Could Help Communication Whilst Wearing a Face Mask
25 September 2020 | Updated 15 October 2020
 

To help overcome communication issues caused by wearing face masks, Corps Security has begun a pilot scheme which equips security officers with speech to text and translation tools.

40 Corps Security officers across retail sites in Birmingham, Cheltenham and Exeter have access to transcription functionality (audio to text), written text translating capability and verbal conversation translation between two different languages. All services are delivered via mobile application and operate offline eliminating the need for internet connectivity.

Corps has implemented the transcription service to support communication difficulties posed by wearing a face mask. Individuals with hearing impairments can struggle to understand a security officer wearing a face mask as facial expressions and lip-reading are severely hindered. 

This technology integration ensures security officers can effectively deliver critical safety information about COVID-19 and associated social distancing measures, and ensure the information is fully understood. 

It also ensures staff, clients and members of the public have a tool to help them raise any concerns and ask questions when a face mask can potentially hinder their own verbal communication.

 

“This technology integration could be a key differentiator in ensuring COVID-secure safety information is understood and adhered to."

–Neil Shanks

National Account Manager, Corps Security

 

 

How Does the Technology Work?

 

When language barriers arise, the verbal conversation translation function offers an automatic translation of two-way dialogue as each person speaks, so there’s no need to take turns operating a translation tool. 

The written text translation service offers an alternative stream of communication. The intention is to help a security officer understand what a person is trying to communicate, and helps that person feel assured that what they are communicating has been understood accurately.

 

Ensuring COVID Safety Information is Understood

 

This new speech to text and translation technology pilot scheme is led by Neil Shanks, National Account Manager, Corps Security. Commenting on the benefits of the scheme, Shanks said: “Language barriers present security officers with challenges and now we also have the added barrier of face masks which hinder communication.

“This technology integration could be a key differentiator in ensuring COVID-secure safety information is understood and adhered to, and in determining positive outcomes of stressful situations such as a missing child or preventing a suicide attempt.”

Mike Bullock, CEO, Corps Security said: “Integrating this transcription and translation functionality means our officers are in a stronger position to support our customers and members of the public, and it helps us improve the quality of our service

“We can ensure important safety information is conveyed at a time where communicating health and safety measures is absolutely paramount.”

Picture: a photograph of a person in an airport wearing a facial covering

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 25 September 2020

Share



Related Articles

Male Security Guards Have One Of Highest COVID-19 Death Rates

The Office for National Statistics has today published the latest figures regarding COVID-19 death by occupation, again revealing a high death rate in the security...

 Read Full Article
Security Officer Appreciation Week – #ThankYourSecurityOfficer

A security services provider is hosting a series of thank-you visits to their colleagues to mark Security Officer Appreciation Week. Corps Security, a security...

 Read Full Article
Low City Footfall, Congestion Charge and the Effect on Security Officers

As fewer people commute to work in city centres, this will inevitably alter the role of the front of house security officer.  Theo Nicolaou, Managing...

 Read Full Article
Research Shows Reasons Behind Security Staff’s Susceptibility to COVID-19

Age, working location, ethnicity, and working in close proximity to others have all been identified as factors that may contribute to security officers having one of the...

 Read Full Article
Front-Of-House Strategies For Dealing With Aggressive Behaviour Post-Lockdown

It’s clear that the role of our front-of-house workforce and security staff is going to change significantly as buildings reopen. The security guard that greets...

 Read Full Article
How Is The Security Industry Protecting Its Workforce?

As safety and hygiene measures are ramped up on trains and at stations this week, security guards with crowd management training are being deployed. Trains have been...

 Read Full Article
Memorial to Transport Workers who Lost Their Lives to COVID-19 Unveiled

A new memorial in Aldgate that commemorates transport workers who passed away due to COVID-19 has been officially opened by the Mayor of London Sadiq...

 Read Full Article
MPs’ COVID-19 Report Calls on Minimum Standards for Hygiene Infrastructure

MPs are recommending a series of measures to prepare the UK for future public health emergencies, resulting from an inquiry into the role of cleaning during the COVID-19...

 Read Full Article
Sodexo’s Head of Health & Safety Named COVID Workplace Champion

April Harvey from Sodexo has been recognised for her role as health, safety and risk lead in the mobilisation of the first COVID quarantine facility and COVID-19 test...

 Read Full Article
Improving Indoor Air Quality This Winter

During the pandemic, COVID has raised the profile of the quality of the air we breathe in our buildings – how do we maintain this priority throughout the winter...

 Read Full Article