CLEARWATER, Fla., Aug. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire-iReach/ — Stratus Video Interpreting, a national leader in video remote interpreting (VRI), is broadening its capabilities with the acquisition of Capiche in an effort to provide equal access to quality language services for the U.S. Limited English Proficiency (LEP) population which, as of 2011, had reached 25 million—an increase of 81% since 1980. (1) The integration of the Capiche platform will expand Stratus’ technical capabilities into WebRTC, a leading edge communications platform, and will provide critical technology enhancements to meet the rapidly growing demand for VRI. Capiche, founded by Jakob Rohn, Steve Blakely and Frederick Marx, represents the forefront of modern interpreting systems and offers the first WebRTC-based interpreting platform that connects LEP individuals with interpreters.

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Healthcare systems and courts nationwide have reported difficulties in providing timely, affordable and quality service to non-English-speakers due to an increasing LEP population combined with a lack of timely access to qualified interpreters. But according to Stratus CEO Sean Belanger, technology exists that provides a solution to the substantial delays and costs associated with language services; however, the lack of nationwide standardization has caused many individuals to receive subpar healthcare and inferior justice, a situation which Stratus has taken steps to fix with its acquisition of Capiche, which Belanger deems to be another positive step in advancing the development of its VRI.

Stratus’ current system, when integrated with WebRTC, will assist in the company’s endeavor to create standardization within a fragmented industry—one that finds hospitals and healthcare systems in urban or rural areas, which house a reported 94% of LEP individuals, (1) often without the means to assist those individuals, per Belanger.

“WebRTC offers real advantages over traditional video communications technologies—no software is required to be downloaded, as it works natively in the browser and works cross-platform with IOS and Android,” said Belanger. “WebRTC also has distinct advantages, delivering high-quality video over long distance in a secure and encrypted fashion.”

The Capiche acquisition allows both companies to work in tandem to provide clients with access to a global network of professional interpreters through VRI, thereby removing the challenges associated with face-to-face and over-the-phone (OPI) interpreting, such as high costs and a lack of the personal, one-on-one feel desired by many LEP individuals.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to join the Stratus team and take the next step to creating a high standard for language services for all, regardless of the language they speak,” said Jakob Rohn, CEO of Capiche.

Stratus specializes in medical and court interpreting, but the company’s technology is applicable to every industry. Stratus employs experienced, highly-qualified, certified interpreters who can either be used to supplement an existing interpreting infrastructure or to replace live and over-the-phone interpreters altogether with its VRI system.

For more information about Stratus and its services, visit www.stratusvideo.com.

About Stratus Video Interpreting:

Stratus Video Interpreting provides on-demand interpreter services by using technology to connect clients with interpreters in over 175 spoken and signed languages in less than 30 seconds. Stratus’ cloud-based video solution delivers an array of unique features to virtually any Internet-enabled PC, Mac, smartphone or tablet. Stratus clients use the technology to connect with their own staff interpreters, as well as with Stratus interpreters, who have years of healthcare and courtroom experience and hold multiple certifications. With Stratus, state-of-the-art video remote interpreting is made available with virtually no capital investment. Stratus averages 65,000 video calls a day, up from 40,000 in mid-2013. Stratus Video is the sister company of The Z (CSDVRS, LLC, dba ZVRS), which was established in 2006 and developed by and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals, setting the industry standard as the nation’s premier Video Relay Service Provider and the first VRS Provider to receive a 5-Year certification from the FCC. For more information, visit www.stratusvideo.com.

1. Whatley, Monica, and Jeanne Batalova. “Limited English Proficient Population of the United States.” Migrationpolicy.org. N.p., 25 July 2013. Web. 3 June 2014. migrationpolicy.org/‌article/limited-english-proficient-population-united-states.

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SOURCE Stratus Video Interpreting