Microsoft Set to Improve Microsoft Teams with Sign Language View
Microsoft recently announced the addition of Sign Language View to Microsoft Teams, to make sign language interpreters more visible in the collaboration software. The forthcoming update will give MT users who have hearing problems the option to access two video feeds, where one has the sign language interpreter at the center and in a bigger aspect at the front of the screen.
Sign Language View (SLV) is designed to help those with hearing difficulties experience better engagement during the cloud-based business meetings. The SLV feed makes possible a larger and clearer view of the interpreter while only those signed-in to the SLV feature can see the special feed.
In cases when a participant shares content during an ongoing meeting, the SLV signer’s video feed moves to the side to spotlight the shared content, but will still maintain a bigger aspect to present a clear view of the interpreter. This kind of setup is visible only to SLV signers while the regular MT participants view the conventional MT feeds.
As indicated in the Microsoft 365 roadmap, the Sign Language View will be available to desktop and browser-accessed Microsoft Teams sometime in December 2022. Actually, some lucky MT clients had been chosen by Microsoft to beta test the features on a per user basis via the Team’s Public Preview program.
How to Set Up the SLV Feature for MT Meetings
Sign Language View can be activated on a case-to-case basis or for all meetings, while only sign language interpreters working in the same company will be pre-assigned prior to the holding of an online MT meeting.
Through the Settings Menu and the Manage Signers button in the Accessibility pane, the MT collab leader or designate, needs only to type in the name of the pre-assigned Interpreter. Doing so will enable the assigned person to enter the meeting as a sign language interpreter.