What We Talk About When We Talk about Gadgets

What We Talk About When We Talk about Gadgets

In the translation industry, dictionaries and other resources are considered to be “skills you can buy.” They are what professionals should have if they aspire to be the best they can be. What about interpreters, then? We often do not have the time to look up words in the dictionary, but surely there are ways we can improve the quality of our performance with a small investment.

The unmistakable “major” of our industry, Atsuko Hirayama, who wowed the crowd at the 2015 Japan Interpreting Forum with her charm and wit, is back with more wonderful tools and gadgets. A relentless efficiency and productivity guru, Hirayama is prepared to show you everything she has in her arsenal: schedule management app, e-mail app, little stationaries to improve your work environment, lighting gadget, portable walkie-talkie, and night vision. What? Night vision?

Atsuko Hirayama

Conference interpreter well-versed in military affairs, law, information technology, and automotives, Atsuko Hirayama has interpreted for global leaders and thinkers including former President George H. W. Bush, Michael Porter (economist), Marshall Goldsmith (leading authority in executive coaching), Haruomi Hosono (musician), and Amory Lovins (physicist and environmental scientist, author of Reinventing Fire). Hirayama first witnessed the work of a professional interpreter as a student, which crushed her confidence into bits, but nevertheless she continued to pursue her dream of one day becoming a professional herself. Hirayama’s street smarts enable her to work with anybody. In a business where many veterans frown on the use of gadgets by interpreters, Hirayama is a rare breed. Her creed: “Give the warriors the best weapons available, because every day they face a battle they can’t afford to lose.”
________________________________________
Sign up from here (Japanese only)