The Evolution of ‘On-Demand’ BSL Interpreting

Let me take you back — not quite to the age of dinosaurs. But certainly to the dial-up era. During that time, the idea of accessing a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter on demand felt extremely futuristic. It was as futuristic as a hoverboard that actually hovers.

Remember This? Diaries, Pagers, and Fax Machine Battles

“When booking an interpreter involved a diary, Post-its, and beating a yuppie to the fax machine.”

Back then, if you were Deaf and needed an interpreter, you had to plan ahead like a military strategist. You had to book the interpreter. Then, schedule the visit. Don’t forget to sacrifice a goat to the gods of availability… you get the picture. Conversations weren’t just delayed — they were practically encased in amber.

When Video Killed the Waiting Room

Fast forward a couple of decades, and here we are. Technology has done what it so often promises to do. It has changed not just the tools we use. It has also changed who gets to take part in the conversation, when and how. It’s shifted access from something we queue for, to something we tap into — instantly.

“Remote access, they said. It’ll be easy, they said. Meanwhile, dial-up wheezed like a dying bagpipe and we trailblazed through it anyway.”

Now, let’s talk early adopters. Video Relay Service (VRS) and Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) led the way in the early 2000s. They harnessed the improving internet. This brought real-time sign language communication into homes and workplaces. There was no more waiting for an in-person appointment like a Victorian courting ritual. It was on-demand and immediate. This changed the rules entirely.

Real-time interpreting isn’t a luxury. It’s an access that should begin when you need it. It should not start after forms, phone calls, or waiting.

Enter SignLive: BSL On Demand (No Goats Required)

“Access at your fingertips — because Deaf professionals deserve tools that move as fast as they do.”

Around the mid-2010s, this homegrown UK service put BSL interpreters in your pocket. This is figuratively, of course, unless you were rocking some truly capacious trousers. It offered on-demand access to qualified interpreters via video, cutting out the travel, the waiting rooms, and the endless diary-juggling. For many in the Deaf community, it was more than a convenience — it was liberation. Suddenly, communication could be spontaneous again. Natural. Human.

Why This Isn’t Just Convenient — It’s Transformational

I’ve been around the block a few times. It has been long enough to interpret for the BBC for 25 years. I have seen first-hand how access can shape confidence, independence, and dignity. When someone can join a conversation in real time, they’re not just included — they’re empowered. And trust me, there’s a world of difference between being ‘informed’ and being present.

From SignLive to Convo: Global Reach, Local Roots

In 2020, the story took another turn — not an ending, but an expansion. SignLive joined forces with Convo. Convo is a Deaf-owned and Deaf-led global platform. It is already transforming interpreting access across countries like the US, Canada, Australia, and South Africa. What was once a brilliant UK-based service became part of a global network — same mission, broader reach, more muscle.

Today, Convo connects users and interpreters across nine countries and ten languages. Services like Convo Now allow you to call an interpreter from your phone. This can be done whether you’re at home or at work. It also works when you’re trying to decode the mystery of a train announcement at Euston. And with Convo Access, even that becomes simpler. Simply scan a QR code at a partner venue. Voilà — interpreter on the line, no app, no faff, no delay.

“Convo puts Deaf people in control of every conversation, from spontaneous chats to everyday interactions — without delay or setup.”

Instant Access, Real Impact

For me, the story of Convo is part of a larger arc in language access. It represents the shift from interpreting as a scheduled service to interpreting as something that happens when you need it. Because language isn’t just a way to get information from point A to point B. It’s how we connect, participate, belong.

Seen the shift yourself? Let’s talk.

“Whether you’re old school or all-digital, the conversation’s open — pull up a chair.”

Whether you’re a veteran of the fax era or a newcomer to on-demand interpreting, I’d love to hear your take. Share this post, leave a comment, or just have a chat about what access means to you. Because connection isn’t just the topic — it’s the point.

So here’s to Convo, to evolution, and to every moment when access becomes presence. And if the future includes interpreters in your pocket, well — just make sure they’re comfortable in there.