Dubai-based Emirates NBD has become the first bank in the world to pilot KinTrans, a technology that enables easy two-way communication between sign language communicators with hearing disabilities and people who use spoken languages. The bank said its commitment to people with disabilities supports the ‘#MyCommunity’ initiative launched by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, crown prince of Dubai, that aims to transform Dubai to a disability-friendly city by 2020. After beta-testing KinTrans with service ambassadors and customers with hearing disabilities in its Jumeirah Emirates Towers branch to receive feedback, the bank said it will roll the system out in more branches across the country during 2017. The system, currently in its testing mode, automates Arabic Union Sign Language and American Sign Language at the Emirates Towers Branch. Customers with hearing or speech impairments can communicate via sign language, which will be instantly converted into text displayed on a screen for service ambassadors to read.
