Weakness, an accident resulting in injury, or a building fire: anyone who calls the emergency number 112 often finds themselves in a very stressful situation. It will be even more difficult if you speak German poorly and are desperately looking for the right words. The Integrated Control Center (ILS) Bayreuth/Kulmbach is currently testing a solution to this problem: it is the first emergency call center in Bavaria to use it on a trial basis. software one that can translate around 400 different languages and dialects.
The “Asgard” program, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), can also translate dispatchers’ answers and questions at the control center into the caller’s language, Das said Bavarian Red Cross (BRK) Bayreuth with. Tobias Schif, press spokesperson for the BRK district association in Bayreuth, stressed that experience with the system so far has been consistently positive: “The tool makes communication with non-German-speaking callers easier and helps overcome the language barrier in emergency calls quickly.”
The software converts spoken language into text
The system records and analyzes the caller’s words, automatically recognizing the language and converting what is said into text. This appears on the dispatcher’s screen in the emergency call center. “On this basis, dispatchers can communicate directly with callers using free text input, prepared text modules or their own voice input,” explains Tobias Schif. Especially in emergency situations, many people find it easier to describe events in their native language.
It is generally advisable to exercise caution when it comes to place or street names – especially if they are spoken in another language or with a strong accent. “In cases like this, the trained ear and experience of dispatchers are still needed, who can classify the context and ask questions,” a BRK spokesperson said.
Free State tests which systems work best
According to the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior, ILS is conducting testing Bayreuth/Kulmbach translation program as part of the “AI-powered emergency call request” pilot project, which is financially supported by the Free State. The ILS catchment area includes the city of Bayreuth and the districts of Bayreuth and Kulmbach.
“Innovative innovations, which are properly implemented and meet existing quality standards, should always be able to be adopted promptly in Bavaria’s 25 ILSs,” said a ministry spokesperson.
The Free State is currently carrying out functional tests at the state fire school in Geretsried, Upper Bavaria, to find out which systems work best. Real-time translation will be checked among other things with regard to IT security, an Interior Ministry spokesperson said. It is currently unclear if and when the AI translation program will be used across Bavaria to answer emergency calls.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:251110-930-271129/1
