This thesis explores the existing ways of hiring a Slovenian Sign Language interpreter, which help users (deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind persons) overcome communication issues with both hearing and deaf persons, and presents the development of a web application that would encourage users to order interpreting services electronically.
The current situation in ordering interpreting services was examined through a survey among users (deaf and hard of hearing). The web application was developed in a WAMP environment with the most commonly used technologies.
The research and survey analysis showed that users hire interpreters in several ways. The most common way is the classic direct approach on the basis of the publicly available list of 51 interpreters, while the least common way is via the web form available on the website of the Association of Slovenian Sign Language Interpreters. The reasons for this range from distrusting the work of interpreters to not knowing the interpreter personally and distrusting the Internet in general. Moreover, the research showed that the existing process of ordering interpreting services could be facilitated and sped up for the users and service providers (operators) alike, which is what the new web application would allow to some extent.
Additional functionalities would render the process of searching and hiring an interpreter faster and more transparent. The possibilities of commenting and rating interpreters would also build trust in ordering services via the web application. In turn, this would facilitate the management of orders and increase the level of satisfaction among the users of these services.
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