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Company takes role in jails
Multi-lingual project supplies information
by Greg Wright

http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=56&ArticleID=1244268

ONE of the world's largest translation companies is
breaking down language barriers in Britain's prisons.
Thebigword, based in Leeds, is working with BT to
supply a multilingual information service for Prisons.
BT has begun installing the first touchscreen information
terminals in prisons and secure units across England
and Wales.
The scheme is one of a range of initiatives aimed
at reducing self-harm and re-offending by providing
prisoners with faster access to advice. Prisoners can
use the terminals to gain advice about health matters,
or to find out about their prospects once they leave
prison.
Thebigword has been hired to translate advice on
issues such as housing, debt and depression into
eight languages.
The first 14 touch screen terminals are being installed
in prisons in the East Midlands, and Thebigword will
soon be enabling prisoners to access vital information
in Arabic, English, French, Russian, Spanish, Turkish,
Welsh and Urdu.
A roll-out is planned and 138 prisons will soon have several multilingual terminals,
in an effort to improve the flow of information from staff to prisoners.
"I believe that language barriers shouldn't be a barrier to good information," said
Larry Gould, chief executive of Thebigword. "It is extremely rewarding that we are
able to translate quality advice for this new service, and can help people to prepare
for life on the outside."
The Prisoner Information Points are regarded as a huge step forward in the provision
of information for prisoners. In the past the information was only available in
leaflets, which took time to update. Thebigword believes the new system is more
user-friendly, and it can be easily updated.
When new content requires translation, it will be transmitted directly to Thebigword.
Once the information has been translated by a team of specialised linguists, it is
automatically returned to the prison's management system.
Mr Gould continued: "It's an important contract for us, and we can save the prisons'
time and money by sending translations directly over a secure internet connection.
Now thanks to BT and Thebigword, the terminals will soon be benefiting both prisoners
and staff, and helping to combat re-offending."
Thebigword provides translation services in more than 140 languages, and has a
network of more than 4,500 translators around the world. The company was founded in
1980, has a £10m turnover and employs 100 permanent staff.
It has offices in Leeds, London, New York, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Brussels and Copenhagen,
and customers in more than 40 countries. The client list includes 47 of the FTSE-100
and 52 of the top 100 NASDAQ companies.
greg.wright@ypn.co.uk

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I intend to last long enough to put out of business all *****-suckers
and other beneficiaries of the institutionalized slavery and genocide.

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