Starting July 23, the City of Reno will offer real-time translation and transcription services at City Council meetings using an AI-powered tool from Wordly. The service will be available in English and Spanish to help individuals with hearing impairments or language barriers follow the meetings, as reported by the City of Reno.
The City of Reno is testing Wordly, a cloud-based translation tool, at regular council meetings. The software displays live transcriptions on a monitor in the Council Chambers and can also be accessed on personal devices through a QR code available in the chamber and on virtual agendas. Designed to support deaf and hard of hearing individuals, the tool is available for use by all attendees and includes an audio feature for headphone use. This pilot follows the city's earlier implementation of services like UbiDuo 3 and Listen EVERYWHERE to improve communication and accessibility during meetings and court proceedings. If the trial is successful, the city plans to expand Wordly's use.
Reno Mayor Schieve said, “The City has made great steps to be more accessible, enabling more of the public to learn and participate in local government,” according to the City of Reno. The agenda for the July 23 meeting will be posted on the city’s website, and the meeting will be available to watch on the city’s YouTube channel. Both will be accessible at least three business days before the meeting.
