C.A.R.T. Services

Communication Access Realtime Translation

What is C.A.R.T.?

Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) is a word-for-word speech-to-text interpreting service for people who need communication access. Unlike other forms of computerised note-taking, or other shorthand systems, which only summarise the information for the client, CART provides complete verbatim translation of all that is said and also other pertinent audible events (e.g. applause, door closing, etc.) enabling the client to decide what part of the information is important to them.

Your CART provider will use a stenograph machine, a computer, and realtime software to enable the translation of speech to text instantaneously on the display for the benefit of their client; be they an individual sitting at the laptop computer watching the output, or a larger group watching a big-screen display.

Who uses C.A.R.T.?

The consumers of CART are a very diverse group, they include: people with some hearing loss; people with English as their second language; people with cognitive or motor impairments; and now because of the introduction of EU Directives, which will soon become law in many EU countries, some of the larger event organisers are beginning to use this service. In the U.S. the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) specifically recognises CART as an assisting technology that affords effective communication access.

This service can be used for; one to one conversations, meetings, church services, Ard Fheiseanna, college or university lectures, open days, product launches, conferences, theatre and cinema. Some of our clients include national charities and governmental bodies.

We are proud to be members of CARTwheel, an organisation for CART providers, and one of our directors is a serving member on the board. We are the only members outside the U.S. and Canada.