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What is Beam Interpret?

Michael McKenna
Updated

🌍 Please note: This feature is currently only available to customers in the UK and US.

You can watch the video or read the text guide below to understand more on what Beam Interpret is and how it can help you. We have two formats available to suit your learning style.

Video Guide

Text Guide

Interpret is a live, AI-driven interpretation tool that allows you to have fluid, two-way conversations with people in over 40 languages. Whether you are conducting a home visit, a housing assessment, or a clinical consultation, Interpret ensures that language is never a barrier to providing high-quality support.

How it Works

Beam Interpret uses advanced speech-to-text and machine translation technology to act as a digital bridge between two speakers.

  1. Audio Capture: The system listens to the spoken word through your device's microphone.

  2. Instant Translation: It identifies the language being spoken and translates it into the target language in real-time.

  3. Two-Way Interaction: Both the frontline worker and the service user can speak into the device. The app provides both a text transcript and a natural-sounding voice output in the recipient's language.

  4. Integration with Beam Notes: Once the conversation is over, the translated dialogue can be automatically summarized into professional case notes, saving hours of manual documentation.

Key Features

1. Live Two-Way Translation

The interface is designed for "pass-back" or "side-by-side" use. You speak in your language, the app plays the translation for the service user, and then they speak back.

2. Support for 40+ Languages

From widely spoken languages like Spanish and Arabic to more specific regional dialects, Interpret covers the vast majority of languages encountered by frontline teams.

Here is a current list of languages supported by Interpret:

  • Amharic

  • Arabic

  • Bengali - standard (not Silheti)

  • Bosnian

  • Bulgarian

  • Cantonese

  • Croatian

  • Czech

  • Dari

  • Dutch

  • Farsi

  • Filipino

  • French

  • German

  • Greek

  • Gujarati

  • Hebrew

  • Hindi

  • Hungarian

  • Icelandic

  • Italian

  • Japanese

  • Korean

  • Latvian

  • Malayalam

  • Mandarin

  • Nepalese / Nepali

  • Pashto

  • Polish

  • Portuguese

  • Punjabi - Indian

  • Romanian

  • Russian

  • Serbian

  • Slovak

  • Somali

  • Spanish

  • Swahili

  • Swedish

  • Tamil

  • Telugu

  • Thai

  • Turkish

  • Ukrainian

  • Urdu

  • Uzbek

  • Vietnamese

  • Welsh

3. "Human-in-the-loop" Accuracy

While the AI is highly accurate, the interface displays the transcript of what it heard in the original language. This allows you to verify that the system captured your message correctly before it is communicated to the other person.

Step-by-Step Guide: Running an Interpreted Session

Step 1: Start a Session

Log into your Beam account and select Interpret from your dashboard. Choose your language (e.g., English) and the language of the person you are meeting with.

Step 2: Speak and Listen

Tap the microphone icon to begin speaking. Once you finish, Interpret will automatically translate your words. You can choose to have the translation read aloud or simply shown as text on the screen.

Step 3: Switch Speakers

When the service user responds, they can speak directly into the phone. Interpret will translate their response back into your language instantly.

Step 4: Finalize and Summarize

When the meeting ends, click Stop. You can then choose to Go to Note where the entire translated conversation is summarized into your required reporting format (e.g., a Care Act Assessment or a Housing Review).

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