nij review
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NIJ Review. Voice Response Translator Report. Roger Miller Tactical/Technical Trainer North Carolina Justice Academy [email protected] / (828) 685-3600 ext. 211. Voice Response Translator. Background Developed by Integrated Wave Technologies (IWT) - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
NIJ Review
Voice Response Translator
Report
Roger Miller
Tactical/Technical Trainer
North Carolina Justice Academy
[email protected] / (828) 685-3600 ext. 211
Voice Response Translator
Background
Developed by Integrated Wave Technologies (IWT)
Based on funding originating in 1996 from NIJ
Originally tested by the Oakland Police Dept.
Final grant ended (2004-IJ-CX-K042) in 2006
Voice Response Translator
Description
Uses a unique voice recognition algorithm that is able to recognize an officer’s voice with near 100% accuracy even in high background noise environments
On voice command, produces pre-programmed phrases in various languages
Designed for use in both hostile and non-hostile encounters with non-English speaking persons.
Voice Response Translator
Application
VRT was developed to meet the need of law enforcement and corrections to have an effective audio translation capability
Officers identify the language spoken by a person
Issues emergency commands to the person
Makes inquiries to which a person could respond with head and hand movements.
Voice Response Translator
Costs$3,200.00 a unit5 yr replacement
warrantyFuture upgradesUnlimited on-site
training
IncludesModule w/ megaphonePower chargersBlackhawk duffel bagModule carrying caseTraining discLaminate voice chart
Voice Response Translator
NIJ/IWT partnership with the North Carolina Justice Academy
Three units provided by IWT for evaluation starting December 2006
Purpose
Test the accuracy and reliability of the VRT
Examine the ability for law enforcement and corrections officials to easily use the unit in the day-to-day performance of their duties
Voice Response Translator
Strategy
Determined that three different sized agencies would present the best avenue for evaluation (all volunteers)
Initial sites included
Laurel Park PD (small)
Raleigh Durham Airport Police (medium)
Fayetteville PD (large)
Evaluation period 30 – 45 days
Voice Response Translator
Results of deployment
Smaller agency
Minimal use of the device, even though they have a large population of non-English speaking residents
Agency has a multi-language speaking officer on staff
Inability to deploy the unit due to lack of manpower availability (person having unit was not able to respond to scene)
Voice Response Translator
Results of deployment (cont.)Medium/large sized agencies
Unit was actively deployed in situations involving suspected criminal activity
Alarm calls, vehicle stops, cultural gatherings, public service events, property collection, securing of equipment
Languages used included Spanish, Dari Farsi, Kurdish, Mandarin, Korean and Vietnamese.
Voice Response Translator
Findings
Officers were surprised at how efficient the unit was in loud noise environments
Several officers felt that it was the next best thing to an interpreter
Officers were comforted by knowing they had an outlet to continue their interaction with subjects when no other interpreter options existed
Voice Response Translator
Findings
Two of the units had a unique ‘bug’ or malfunction where the unit wouldn’t power off.
This was resolved by plugging the unit into the power charger and cycling it off/on.
This was replicated more than once (four times total on two different units)
Voice Response Translator
FindingsMost officers agreed that the unit was best
used during times of minimal safety risks.
Attention was diverted on how to properly use the device versus focusing on their suspect / complainant
This can be credited to their lack of familiarity with the VRT
Interviews with officers indicated that in most cases they waited until the last minute to ‘train’ the VRT
Voice Response Translator
Findings
Most officers felt that the VRT took too long to program
Per officers, it took approximately 45 minutes to set it up for one officer
Difficulty getting the unit to recognize voice pattern to change to the desired language
Voice Response Translator
Findings
Reliability in relaying the correct commanded phrase
Officer would say “under arrest” and “Spread legs” phrase would initiate
Officer would have to continually repeat phrases to get an appropriate response
This frustrated officers and led to the unit not being used due to time, and an interpreting being called instead.
Voice Response Translator
Evaluations
All feedback from the unit was gathered through:
Interviews conducted by NCJA with officers
Daily Participant VRT Log (developed by IWT)
Voice Response Translator
Duty Description (traffic, patrol, etc…)
Day of work week
Type of situation/event and language used
Was response to VRT positive, negative, indifferent
Description of environment
Any situation / events and language if the VRT could have been used but wasn’t
Problems with unit
Daily Participant VRT Log(Developed by IWT)
Voice Response Translator
Lessons learned
Based on the first phase of evaluations, the following changes will be made:
When VRT is given to the agency, they will appoint a specific “head trainer” who will be responsible for the unit
Directed to individually train each of the people selected to use the unit
Watch the DVD-ROM provided
Conduct a practical exercise to ensure proper understanding of the equipment
Voice Response Translator
Lessons learned
Instead of varying the amount of people who will use the VRT, specifically train up to eight total officers to use the unit during the 30 day evaluation period.
This can be accomplished by the “head trainer” or when NCJA delivers the unit, the selected individuals and “head trainer” are all present to learn and populate the unit at the same time
Voice Response Translator
Next Step
The second phase will incorporate evaluations from law enforcement and correctional settings.
Agencies to be used include:
Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department
Mecklenburg County Detention Facility
Hendersonville Police Department
Voice Response Translator
Questions?
National Institute of Justicehttp://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/
Integrated Wave Technologieshttp://www.i-w-t.com/
North Carolina Justice Academyhttp://www.jus.state.nc.us/NCJA/
Roger D. MillerTactical/Technical TrainerNorth Carolina Justice Academy
[email protected](828)685-3600 ext. 211