A New Frontier of Human-Machine Interaction: Simultaneous Interpreting in Virtual Reality

In recent years, the interest in the Metaverse and the use of Virtual Reality (VR) for training purposes has notably increased. These immersive environments represent a new frontier of human-interpreter interaction, where interpreters immerse themselves in new worlds and interact using their avatars and VR headsets. This contribution aims to shed light on the dynamics of the interpreter-VR interaction and to present the results of a case study conducted at IULM University during interpreters’ training in VR. In these sessions, MA students in Conference Interpreting had the opportunity to take part in experimental classes focused on practising activities such as sight translation, shadowing and simultaneous interpreting within simulated realistic working environments, including a conference hall equipped with interpreting booths, all within the immersive setting of the Metaverse.