Abstract:
The present invention is a method and apparatus for facilitating an interview where the interviewer and interviewee speak different languages. An important application is to first responder situations during an emergency. The invention implements several improvements over the prior art. A method is provided whereby the interviewee who cannot read can nevertheless specify her language to the interviewer and system. Choices of topics about which the interviewer might want to communicate with the interviewee are ranked by associated probabilities or risks, thereby assisting the interviewer in selecting next steps in the interview and treatment process; the interviewer, nevertheless, retains the discretion to choose other options. Information communicated to the interviewee in detail can be presented to the interviewer in summary form, so that the interviewer can concentrate on higher priority matters. Ordinarily, the interviewer and interviewee wear headsets, but an interviewee headset that can be conveniently converted into speakers allows the interviewer to communicate in the interviewee language to third parties at the scene, such as family members. Other implementations allow the headset to serve as a hub for sensor (e.g., camera, audio recorder, thermometer) data collection, storage, and dissemination.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to language translation. More particularly, it relates to a method and apparatus for language translation whereby an interviewer can interview a subject who speaks a different language from the interviewer. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are many contexts in which an interviewer needs to elicit information from a human subject. The interviewer might be a service provider, or a consumer of services. The subject might be a client, a customer, a patient, or, indeed, a service provider. In the health care context, for example, an emergency medical technician might need to determine how to care for a sick or injured patient. The measures to be taken could depend upon measurements, observations, questioning of the patient, questioning of friends and family, and witnesses. In addition to asking questions, the interviewer might need to issue instructions associated with the interview or with the treatment process. 
     When the interviewer and the subject do not speak a common language, their ability to communicate will be severely limited. In the context of a medical emergency, this is particularly problematic because of the urgency for an appropriate remedial response. According to the National Virtual Translation Center (NVTC) of the United States Government (http://www.nvtc.gov/lotw/USlanguages.html), more than 300 languages are spoken in the United States today. Of course, the interviewer and interviewee might both be multilingual, but any system needs to deal with the common case where the interviewer and interviewee each speak a single language, and those languages are different. According to the NVTC, about 80 percent of United States residents speak only English. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, of about 168,065 residents nationally who speak Hmong, for example, about 28 percent speak English “not well” or “not at all.” (http://www.mla.org/map_data_langlistmode=lang_tops) 
     Lee (U.S. Patent Application 2003/0208352 A1) describes prior art approaches to interviewer/interviewee translation, including: translation by the interviewer; translation by family and friends; ad hoc interpretation by third parties; translation by professionals; and use of foreign language phrase books. As an improvement over these prior art approaches, Lee teaches the use of a computer if the information to be translated is routine. Questions presented to the interviewee can be in yes/no or multiple-choice forms. The interviewee may also be expected to respond to some questions by typing a number into a field. As an alternative to a personal computer (PC), Lee suggests that the system might be implemented on a personal digital assistant (PDA). A particular embodiment of Lee&#39;s approach utilizes a docked tablet computer on a rotating turntable. The tablet computer includes a touch tablet with a graphical user interface shared by the interviewer and interviewee. Questions are transmitted to the interviewee by means of text printed on the computer screen and audio transmitted by speakers. Instructions may be issued to the interviewee in audio or printed form. The information collected is not stored in the translation device. As a preliminary task, the language of the interviewee must be identified. Lee presents a method wherein languages are presented for interviewee choice, each language represented as a national flag accompanied by the name of the language written in that language. 
     The choice of questions obviously depends on the purpose of the interview. In some limited circumstances, the series of questions might be linear; that is, questions can be asked without deviation from a specific known sequence. For example, once it has been determined that hospital services will be paid for with a credit card, the questions to be answered follow linearly; namely, credit card type, credit card number, verification code, name on the card, and expiration date. However, some branching in the line of questioning is necessary in most interviews. In the hospital payment example, the subject will typically be asked first what form of payment will be used. Depending on the answer—cash, check, or credit card—a branch in the line of questioning to a context-specific sequence of follow-up questions will be required. 
     Bhatnagar (U.S. Patent Application 2004/0054693) teaches navigation through a tree of choices to diagnose a problem and recommend a solution. Green (U.S. Pat. No. 6,701,322) describes navigation through a series of questions in which an interviewee&#39;s response to a given question determines, through the use of a branching table, the next question that will be asked. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is a method and apparatus for conducting an interview in which the interviewer uses a first language and the interviewee uses a second language different from the first. Diagnosis and treatment by first responders, such as emergency health care providers, is an important application of the invention. Although most of our examples will deal with this application, the invention is not limited to this context. 
     The apparatus includes three digital electronic systems, namely, an interviewer system, an interviewee system, and a server system. In some embodiments, the three systems are disjoint, although there is communication among them; in other words, each system contains exclusively components distinct from those of the other systems. In other embodiments, some hardware or software components are shared between systems. In the extreme case, all three systems might be housed in a single device, such as a tablet PC. The systems can communicate information with each other by standard means, such as a personal area network (PAN) (e.g., one implemented with Bluetooth technology) local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), utilizing wired or wireless connections. However, communication between systems in some embodiments may be indirect; for example, all communication between the interviewee system and the server system might pass through the interviewer system. 
     The interviewee system includes an interviewee screen adapted to output in the form of images, graphical user interface elements, and text. The interviewee system also includes an input device for interaction with the interviewee screen and system. Such input could be by touch, pointing device (e.g., a mouse or a stylus), keyboard, or some combination thereof. The interviewer system also includes an interviewer screen and an input device, for interviewer input and output. Ordinarily, the interviewer screen will have the same general capabilities as the interviewee screen, although in some embodiments the interviewer screen has text input and output capability only, without the ability to display images. It will be recognized by those familiar with computers that the interviewer screen and interviewee screen might in some embodiments be combined into a single device; this might involve splitting the display into two halves, one for the interviewer and the other for the interviewee. Such combination is within the scope of the invention. Similarly, the interviewer input device and the interviewee input device might be the same, for example, where the interviewee and interviewer both interact by touch with a single tablet PC. 
     The invention includes logic that facilitates a variety of functions relating to the interview, including, for example: communication to the interviewer of information about a method for treating a patient or for using a new type of instrument; specification and storage of the language of the interviewee; presentation to the interviewer of choices to assist the interviewer in conducting the interview and issuing instructions; permitting the interviewer to enter information regarding the interviewee based upon the interviewer&#39;s own observations; allowing the interviewer to select a topic about which information is to be communicated to the interviewee, in the form of one or more questions, images, or instructions; communicating words to the interviewee in audio form or as text displayed on a screen; receiving input from the interviewee who uses the input capabilities of the interviewee system; and storing the questions asked, instructions given, and interviewee responses. The facilitating logic can be implemented in software or in digital electronic hardware, or some combination of the two. The actual device upon which the logic executes is unimportant for the invention so long as the necessary communications links among devices are present. For example, software might execute in the interviewer system, the interviewee system, or a remote sever that communicates with interviewer and interviewee screens across a wireless network; logic with the necessary functionality could be split across two or more systems. 
     The server system includes digital storage to hold topics, questions, instructions, and possible answers to yes/no and multiple-choice questions. Topics, summaries, questions and instructions are stored electronically in the language of the interviewer in text form. If a given implementation of the invention supports two interviewers who speak different languages from each other, then interviewer information will be stored in both languages. Questions and instructions are also stored in both text and audio recordings in a variety of languages for the purpose of expression to possible interviewees. As with the location of the software, the location of the storage is not critical to the invention. In one embodiment, all questions and answers are stored on a central server system and accessed by wireless communication across a wide area network. Centralizing the topics onto a server allows the content to be updated on a continuous basis and made available to all interviewer and interviewee systems in the field. On the other hand, some embodiments of the invention do not require a separate server, allowing the invention to operate in totally remote locations, without a network, server, or hospital. As will be described below, an aspect of the invention is a headset that can serve as a collection and storage hub for measurements such as temperature and blood pressure readings, and video and audio information. 
     The interviewee system has audio equipment for communicating with the interviewee, including a headset or a speaker. A microphone may also be included. The interviewer system has similar equipment for communicating with the interviewer, although preferably the interviewer will have a headset rather than a speaker. Of course, the audio equipment and any device transmitting an audio signal to that equipment must be connected with each other in a manner appropriate to carrying the signal, such as by wired or wireless connection. 
     In a typical embodiment of the invention, the interviewer will select a topic about which information is to be communicated to the interviewee. This topic will be sent to the server. The server will respond by sending to the interviewee system audio information, which will be communicated in the language of the interviewee through audio equipment that is part of the interviewee system. Information related to the topic might also be communicated in graphical or text form on the interviewee screen. 
     The interviewer might receive on his audio equipment, expressed in the interviewer language, some or all of the information being received by the interviewee. Preferably, when possible, the interviewer will receive from the server system only capsule summaries of detailed information being communicated to the interviewee. The capsule summaries are a distinguishing feature of the invention; they free the interviewer to concentrate on critical tasks other than communicating with the interviewee, such as observation, diagnosis, analysis, or treatment. 
     At any point in the interview process, given the information that has already been observed by the interviewer or elicited from the interviewee, which line of questioning or treatment the interviewer should pursue next might not be obvious. In such a situation, the invention will present the interviewer with options and give the interviewer discretion to choose from among them. To assist the interviewer, the options will be ranked in a list based upon the expected preference of each, from best to worst. Associated with a particular option might be an indication of strength of that option, such as a score from one to five stars. Some factors that might be included in determining the ranking include: (1) the probability that a given option is the correct; (2) the expected loss or damage that would occur if a given option is the correct one but is not selected; and (3) the expected loss or damage that would occur if a given option is selected, whether or not the option is correct. As an example of (3), consider a procedure that calls for a patient to undergo surgery, a treatment that carries some risk of harm, independent of the patient&#39;s other problems. 
     In some embodiments, the software will have access to records of the interviewee contained in storage, typically on the server system. The interviewer screen will provide the interviewer with access to certain records through GUI controls. Data contained in the stored records may also be taken into account in ranking options for questions, instructions, and treatment as described in the previous paragraph. 
     The apparatus will have the capability to record audio and video of the patient or the scene for inclusion in the records or for analysis and diagnosis in real time. Many computers and cell phones already have this functionality built in; the software will allow the interviewer to associate the audio clips, video clips, and still photographs with the interviewee and with an incident or session. Typically, this data will be stored in the server system or in a headset storage system as described below. 
     Particularly in health care contexts, information will sometimes be presented to the interviewee in three-dimensional form. The interviewee might be presented with a three dimensional image of a human body that can be rotated and touched to make selections. For example, a patient might be asked to answer the question, “Show me where it hurts”, by manipulating a three dimensional image. The invention utilizes graphical choices whenever possible, minimizing or eliminating any use of questions that expect the interviewee to be able to read. 
     The software will include functionality to identify the language of the interviewee by GUI presentation on the interviewee screen. The interviewee will be presented with a map at coarse resolution, typically a world map. Touching an area of the map will bring up a new map at higher resolution. Successive touches will bring up successively higher resolutions until the interviewee is able to point to a country or region, whereby his or her language can be identified by logic implemented in hardware or software. As mentioned previously, in all respects the invention minimizes the need for the interviewee to be able to read. 
     In some embodiments, multiple interviewers speaking different languages might need to work with a single interviewee. In some embodiments of the invention, each interviewer will have their own interviewer screen. The software will cause each interviewer to see on their screen questions and instructions issued by the other interviewers in that interviewer&#39;s own preferred language. The interviewer screens will be linked by wireless technology such as a Bluetooth PAN. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, there are two interviewee systems, each interviewee speaking a different language from the other. Each interviewee language would have to be separately determined, possibly with the method already described that uses successively refined maps on a graphics screen. A topic selected by the interviewer would result in information having the same meaning being transmitted to each interviewee system, in the appropriate respective language. Separate audio equipment for each interviewee would be required. 
     In some situations, the interviewer may want two or more people to hear the questions and instructions directed toward the interviewee. For example, a friend or family member might be present who speaks the same language as the interviewee. This other person might be able to assist the interviewee in answering the questions, or might know information about the interviewee that the interviewee herself does not know. For example, the interviewee might be a child and the other person, a parent. 
     To address this situation, some embodiments of the invention include a new type of interviewee headset. The headset includes one or two ear cups and a headband. The headset has two configurations. In its head-mount configuration the ear cups are adapted to transmitting audio information to the ears of just one individual. In its broadcast configuration, the headset is adapted to broadcasting audio information through the ear cups to a plurality of people. To change between the two configurations, a user performs a mechanical transformation that includes a rotation or pivoting. The transformation automatically adjusts the maximum sound amplitude available so that the maximum will be louder in the broadcast configuration than in the head-mount configuration. 
     As in many prior art headsets, the ear cup includes a rigid outer shell and a soft foam earmuff adapted to sealing to the head of the wearer and preventing external sound from reaching the wearer&#39;s ear. 
     In some embodiments, the headband has a forehead section and a nape section. Each of these two sections has an arch shape pivotally attached at the base or tines of the arch to the ear cups. (It will be assumed here for purposes of discussion that the headset has two ear cups, although a headset with only one ear cup behaves analogously is within the scope of the invention.) When the headband is in the head-mount configuration, it is substantially elliptical in shape. The pivotal attachment allows one of the arches to be folded toward the other. Each arch lies essentially in a plane. In the broadcast position, the planes of these two arches are substantially parallel to each other. By “substantially parallel” is meant that the planes of the two arches intersect at an angle less than 45 degrees. Preferably the planes of the arches intersect at an angle less than 20 degrees. In some embodiments, the planes of the arches are actually parallel or within 5 degrees of being parallel. In any case, therefore, in the broadcast position, the two arches effectively fold into a single arch, with the two ear cups at the base of the arch, one on each tine of the arch. In the broadcast configuration, each ear cup is pivotally attached to its respective tine, allowing it to rotate into a position where the transmission direction of the ear cup is in substantially the same direction as the collapsed arch opens. In the resulting broadcast configuration, the headset can rest on a surface such as a table top, supported upon the single arch of the folded headbands and possibly also the speakers. 
     In some embodiments, the headband automatically adjusts to fit the head size of the user. In some such embodiments, the headband includes interlocking segments. The headset expands when the interlocking segments as the segments are pulled gradually apart. In some embodiments, an elastic band or cord is threaded through the segments connecting pairs of adjacent segments together. The elastic connector stretches to create a force that opposes stretching. The elastic therefore keeps the segments in position so that the headband always fits the head of the wearer snugly. 
     The headset includes a power switch having on and off positions. Typically, the headset also includes a power indicator to show whether the power is on. The indicator might be a lamp or an LED. Typically, the power switch will be built into an ear cup, but it might alternatively be included in the headband. 
     In some embodiments, the headset includes a battery to power its functionality. In such embodiments, there may be a battery level indicator adapted to showing when the battery is low. This might be combined with the power indicator, for example by different colored light to indicate whether the battery level is acceptable or running low. Typically, the battery will be rechargeable. The headset might include a power cord to provide electricity to the headset or to recharge the battery. 
     In some embodiments, the headset includes a mute switch for turning off and on electronic transmission of sound to the speakers. In some embodiments, muting the sound removes a barrier to sound entering the ear cups, for example by also opening a channel or an orifice in one or both of the ear cups. When muting is disabled, then the channel or orifice closes. Partical in a medical service context, the interviewer might choose to hear ambient sound without removing the headset. 
     In some embodiments, the headset includes a storage system. The storage system includes a storage device, such as a hard disk drive, volatile or nonvolatile memory, or a tape drive, and a controller facilitating read access or write access to the storage device. The storage system acts as a data or file server for one or more systems external to the headset. The interviewer system, the interviewee system, the server system, and various measurement devices (e.g., medical instruments, audio and video recorders) might access the headset storage system for read or write access. 
     In some embodiments, the headset includes one or more processors adapted to executing software. Each processor could be used in the implementation of one or more of the functions of the headset. 
     The headset contains one or more wireless communication components adapted to communicating with external devices. For example, a WAN interface might be included for communication with a remote storage server. A LAN interface might be included to communicate with in-house systems within a business environment. A PAN interface might be included for security or privacy reasons or where electromagnetic radiation is a form of pollution, such as in a hospital or on an airplane. Bluetooth technology has the advantage that its range can be kept to approximately 7 meters radius. 
     In some embodiments, the headset includes an expansion slot configured to provide communication between the headset and an device inserted into the slot. The device might be a hard disk, a head lamp, or some sensor such as a thermometer, a camera, or an audio recorder. The expansion slot can also be used to provide power to the device. A variety of technologies might be used to implement the expansion slot; one example is USB 2. Some expansions slots might be configured with a power switch to control whether a device attached to that slot is powered on or off. An expansion slot might also be configured with other components to control the behavior of the apparatus attached to the expansion slot. 
     In some embodiments, the headset includes a pluggable component bus adapted to securing a plurality of pluggable components to the headset, the bus allowing communication between the headset and the external device. The geometry of the bus can be configured to permit attachment of the pluggable devices only in a preferred or correct orientation. In some embodiments, the pluggable components are secured magnetically to the bus. Often, the bus will be used by a user to plug in device control interface components, used to communicate with external devices. Such a component might allow communication between the headset and, for example, a camera, a thermometer, or an audio device. Logic implemented in software or electronic hardware in the headset provides communication between the slot and the external device. The logic may provide control by the headset of the external device, or to communicate information with the external device. Conversely, the external device may use logic in the headset to access data in storage on the headset. Since the headset will be typically in communication with the interviewer system, that system will be able to communicate with the external device, to control functions of the external device, to access data from the external device, or to be controlled by the external device. The bus typically receives power from the battery or other power source to which it is connected, including conceivably a pluggable component. 
     The headset in some embodiments will include a wireless server facilitating communication between logic of the headset and a wide area network or a local area network. The wireless server is also adapted to serving as a conduit between the interviewer system, the interviewee system, or the storage system to the local or wide area network. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of the interviewer, interviewee, and server systems of the invention apparatus. 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment the invention including ranking of topics offered to an interviewer based in part upon associated probabilities. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the invention in which the interviewer receives only a summary of an information item sent to the interviewee. 
         FIG. 4  flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the invention in which the language of the interviewee is determined by interaction of the interviewee with successively more highly resolved maps. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of language interpretation aspects the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of the invention apparatus in which there are two interviewer systems. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of the invention apparatus in which there are two interviewee systems. 
         FIG. 8  is a front view illustrating a headset, in an embodiment of the invention, which converts into a speaker system and functions as a server for local sensors and for storage, in its head-mount configuration. 
         FIG. 9  is diagram used to define terminology relating to an arch. 
         FIG. 10  is a top view illustrating the headset, in an embodiment of the invention, in its head-mount configuration. 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of an embodiment of the invention, which illustrates a set of ribs, included in a headband, as separate items. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-section, in an embodiment of the invention, illustrating expanded and contracted configurations of a headband rib joint. 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of the headset ear cups in an embodiment of the invention illustrating typical human interface controls, an expansion slot, and wireless interfaces. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the headset of an embodiment of the invention in the broadcast configuration. 
         FIG. 15  is a top view of the headset of an embodiment of the invention in the broadcast configuration. 
         FIG. 16  is a front view of the headset of an embodiment of the invention in the broadcast configuration. 
         FIG. 17  is a side view, in an embodiment of the invention, of an ear cup and the forehead and nape headset arches, illustrating a mechanism for relative rotation of the arches in changing between the head-mount and the broadcast configurations. 
         FIG. 18  is a side view, in an embodiment of the invention, of an ear cup and the forehead and nape arches in the head-mount position, illustrating a mechanism for relative rotation of an ear cup relative to the headband arches in changing between the head-mount and the broadcast configurations. 
         FIG. 19  is a side view, in an embodiment of the invention, of an ear cup and the forehead and nape arches in the broadcast position, illustrating a mechanism for relative rotation of an ear cup relative to the headband arches in changing between the head-mount and the broadcast configurations. 
         FIG. 20  is a section view illustrating a track for movement of a guide tab used in some embodiments to provide ear cup rotation relative to the headset arches. 
         FIG. 21  is a cross-section side view through the guide tab that is used in some embodiments, showing the geometry of a channel through which it is adapted to move. 
         FIG. 22  is a flowchart illustrating, in an embodiment of the invention, a method for changing from the head-mount configuration of the headset to the broadcast configuration. 
         FIG. 23  is a flowchart illustrating, in an embodiment of the invention, a method for changing from the broadcast configuration of the headset to the head-mount configuration. 
         FIG. 24  is a schematic diagram illustrating the headset processing system in an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 25  is a side view of a headband bus strip in an embodiment of the invention illustrating coupling of a compatible pluggable component to the bus. 
         FIG. 26  is a set of cross-sectional views illustrating how power and control are passed between segments of a headband rib in an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 27  is a flow chart illustrating the data sensing and storage server functionality of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description and drawings referenced therein give illustrative embodiments of the invention. They are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Practitioners in the art will recognize that many other embodiments of the inventive concepts are possible. All such embodiments should be considered within the scope of the invention. 
     Apparatus 
       FIG. 1  depicts an embodiment of the apparatus of the invention. This embodiment includes an interviewer digital electronic system  100 , an interviewee digital electronic system  140 , a server system  170 , a communication network  190 , and communications links  191 - 194  connecting the three systems. All of the systems can be bundled into a single component of electronic hardware, or a single system can include two or more associated individual hardware components. The functionality of the hardware and associated software are important to the invention; the details of how that functionality is split among individual components are unimportant. Within a given system, all components can communicate with each other as necessary to perform their respective roles; such communication can be implemented in hardware, such as by wire or communication bus, or by some wireless mechanism. Certain communications links may not be present in all embodiments. Some components might be shared between the interviewer system  100  and the interviewee system  140 . For example, these two systems might share a single graphical display or device for input of information. Similarly, the server system  170  plays the role of a storage or database server. Storage server functionality could be housed within components in common with the interviewer system  100  or with the interviewee system  140 . Even when components are shared between two systems, because the functionality of each system is distinct, we still regard them as individual systems in this description and in the claims of this document. 
     Each of the three systems includes logic  110 —interviewer system logic  125 , interviewee system logic  155 , and server system logic  175 , respectively—to control their functionality and internal and external communications. Such logic  110  can be embodied in electronic hardware, software, or some combination thereof. The capability to run computer software is now found routinely in personal computers, personal digital assistants, mobile phones, and portable music players. The logic  110  may be entirely separate within each system, or may be partly or wholly shared among the systems. For example, a single software application might control the language translation functionality of the interviewer system  100  and the server system  170 . 
     The interviewer system  100  and the server system  170  include a graphics screen  106 , an interviewer graphics screen  115  and an interviewee graphics screen  145 , respectively. A graphics screen  106  is adapted to displaying text, a graphical user interface (GUI), digital images in two dimensions, and digital images in three dimensions as projected onto a two dimensional surface. The GUI is adapted to receiving user input through virtual controls  101  displayed on the screen  106 . Such controls, which are well known in the art, might include buttons, radio boxes, lists, or text boxes. A given GUI might utilize some or all of these types of controls, and possibly others. The GUI can provide the ability to point at and manipulate virtual objects displayed graphically in two or three dimensions. The GUI is under control of the logic  110  of the respective system. The interviewer graphics screen  115  and the interviewee graphics screen  145  could be housed in a single hardware component, or they could be separate. In embodiment illustrated in the figure, the interviewer graphics screen  115  is housed in a mobile phone  105 . The interviewee graphics screen  145  is a touch screen  107  of a personal computer. 
     The interviewer system  100  and the server system  170  also each include hardware or tangible input controls  114 —interviewer input controls  120  and interviewee input controls  150 , respectively—for interacting with their respective systems, and in particular, through GUIs on their graphics screens  106 . These controls, managed by logic  110  of the respective system, could be implemented in many ways known in the art. In  FIG. 1 , for example, the interviewer can interact with the interviewer graphics screen  115  through buttons  108  on the mobile phone  105  or through a keyboard  109 . Again, many possibilities exist for such input controls  114  within the scope of the invention, such as a mouse, a trackball, and a scroll wheel. If a graphics screens  106  is a touch screen  107 , then input to the GUI can be done with the touch of a finger or stylus. 
     The interviewer system  100  and interviewee system  140  may also include sound communication equipment  112  (interviewer sound equipment  130  and interviewee sound equipment  160 , respectively) such as a headset  111  or a speaker  113 . Such equipment is adapted to sending information in audio form to a user. The sound communication equipment  112  might also include a microphone (not shown) to allow a user to transmit audio information to the respective system, either for recording or for communication with another user. A microphone is often included off-the-shelf in a headset  111  or in a portable computer. 
     Ordinarily, information will be sent through interviewee sound communication equipment  160  to an interviewee in the language of the interviewee. The interviewee sound communication equipment  160  illustrated by  FIG. 1  includes an interviewee headset  165  and an interviewee speaker  166 . 
     Similarly, information will be sent through interviewer sound communication equipment  130  to an interviewer in the language of the interviewer. The interviewer sound communication equipment  130  illustrated by  FIG. 1  includes an interviewer headset  135 . 
     The interviewer system  100  might include a camera  102  adapted to recording and transmitting information about the interviewee and scene. The camera  102  might be capable of taking still shots or video clips, or both. The interviewer system  100  might also include an audio recording device  103 , adapted to capturing what is said by the interviewee or other people who are present. The interviewer system  100  has the capability to send such captured visual and audio information to the server system  170  for recording in association with the patient and the incident. The interviewer system can include other sensors such as thermometers and blood pressure monitors, and equipment requiring power such as lamps and medical instruments for diagnosis or treatment. 
     In addition to server system logic  175 , the server system  170  includes server electronic storage  180 . Electronic storage, whenever it is referred to in the description or claims of this document, can be any mechanism for retaining information in digital electronic form, such as computer memory, hard disk, flash memory, compact disk, digital video disk, or magnetic tape. Electronic storage might be contained in a single housing, or it might be spread over a variety of computer and data storage systems. Within the scope of the invention, the server electronic storage  180  might actually be housed within the interviewer system  100  or the interviewee system  140 . 
     For illustration,  FIG. 1  shows separate communications links  191 - 194  between all three systems. In fact, although some communication is required between each pair of systems, such communication may not be direct. For example, all communication between the interviewee system  140  and the server system  170  might pass through the interviewer system  100 . In the figure, communication from the interviewer system  100  and interviewee system  140  is shown as occurring through a network. This could be a PAN, a LAN, or a WAN such as the Internet. 
     In some embodiments, the interviewer system logic  125  is adapted to obtaining a choice of an interviewer language. The interviewer language might be selected by the interviewer through a GUI on the interviewer graphics screen  115 . The choice of the interviewer language might be received from electronic storage  104 , either local storage  104  within the interviewer system  100  or remote storage  104  within the server system  170 . For example, the name of the interviewer might be used to retrieve a preferred language from storage  104 . In other embodiments, the interviewer language might be assumed to be some particular language, such as U.S. English; in such embodiments, the step of obtaining a choice of interviewer language can be omitted. 
     The apparatus includes logic  110  adapted to causing a choice of an interviewee language, distinct from the interviewer language, to be saved to electronic storage  104 . In some embodiments, interviewer system logic  125  receives the choice of interviewee language input through a GUI of the interviewer graphics screen  115  by the interviewer. In other embodiments, server system logic  175  either receives the choice of the interviewee language input through a GUI of the interviewee graphics screen  145 , or receives input on the interviewee graphics screen  145  from which the language might be determined. In the subsection of this description entitled  Choosing a Language by the Interviewee , a method is described whereby an interviewee can pick a region on a map, from which a language can be determined by association with the region. When the interviewee language is obtained by input through a GUI on the interviewer graphics screen  115  or the interviewee graphics screen  145 , it will be saved to electronic storage  104 ; the storage  104  to which the choice of interviewee language is saved might be part any of the three systems. In some embodiments, the interviewee language might be obtained from electronic storage  104  rather than input through a GUI, for example, by association of information identifying the interviewee (e.g., a driver&#39;s license) with records previously saved in the server electronic storage  180 . 
     In some embodiments of the invention, the interviewer system  100  includes logic  110  adapted to presenting, on the interviewer graphics screen  115 , a ranked list of topics, the topics being presented in the interviewer language, the ranking being determined at least in part upon a respective probability associated with each topic. For example, in the context of emergency health care, the topics might be alternative lines of questioning that might be asked of a patient interviewee. Each line of questioning might be associated with a different candidate diagnosis of the patient&#39;s condition. For example, an emergency service provider might find a patient on the ground. This might be due to a heart attack, a stroke, a slip and fall accident, a broken bone, or other causes. Each possible cause could be a separate topic. A topic might be associated with a single question, a single instruction, or a sequence of questions or instructions to be delivered to the interviewee. 
     Which list of topics is presented at any given point in the interview might be influenced by a variety of factors. For example, in the context of emergency medical care, the factors influencing the content of a list of topics could include discretion of the interviewer, input from the interviewee in response to earlier questioning, observations by the interviewer of the situation, measurements taken by various kinds of instruments, comments from friends or relatives of the interviewee or of witnesses, and historical records of the interviewee. Historical records of the interviewee may be available through the server system  170  from the server electronic storage  180 . The historical records can include a “session” that tracks a patient through an incident from first response until final resolution. As discussed below, an aspect of the invention is a headset that, in some embodiments, is adapted to serving as a hub for sensing equipment and data storage. 
     A distinguishing aspect of the invention is that the list of topics is ranked, with the ranking determined, at least in part, upon a respective probability associated with each topic. For example, if the topics are possible causes of a patient&#39;s condition, then the topics might be ranked by the probability, estimated from statistics about the public and information known through this point in the interview process about the patient, of each cause. However, the probability of each cause might not be the only factor taken into account in some embodiments. For example, the expected loss of not treating for a particular cause, listed as a topic, when that cause is the true cause of a problem, might also be used in determining the ranking of that cause. Expected loss due to incorrectly treating for some candidate cause, when that candidate is not the true cause, might also be incorporated into the ranking. In typical embodiments of the invention, this ranking will be performed by server system logic  175 , possibly utilizing information sent to the server over a communications link from the interviewer system  100  or the interviewee system  140 . The analysis of what to ask or how to treat the interviewee, or how to instruct the interviewer with respect to treatment and techniques, might require sophisticated statistical modeling techniques and artificial intelligence impossible to implement without computer technology. 
     In some embodiments, the interviewer system logic  125  is adapted to receiving a topic selection from the ranked list. The topic selection will ordinarily be received through the GUI on the interviewer graphics screen  115 . It is important that the interviewer has discretion to choose either the most highly ranked topic or one with a lower ranking. 
     To respond to a choice of a topic, some embodiments of the apparatus contain logic  110  adapted to (i) receiving a first information item and a second information item associated with the topic selection; (ii) transmitting the first information item in audio form in the interviewee language using the interviewee sound communication equipment  160 ; and (iii) presenting the second information item in visual form using the interviewee graphics screen  145 . For example, in the emergency medical treatment context, the first information could be a request to the interviewee to point to the screen, selecting the part of her body that hurts. The second information item could be an image of the human body to allow her to respond to the question by touching an appropriate point on the interviewee graphics screen  145 . 
     Some embodiments of the invention include server system logic  175  adapted to receiving a topic, associating a first information and a second information with the topic, transmitting the first information in the language of the interviewee, and transmitting the second information in the language of the interviewer. In some of these embodiments, the first information item and the second information item will have the same meaning. In others, they will have different means; in one particular case of this, the second information item will be a summary of the first information item. 
     Ranking Topics for the Interviewer 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the invention in which the interviewer selects a topic from a ranked list in the interviewer&#39;s language, thereby causing audio information to be communicated to the interviewee in the interviewee&#39;s language. After the start  200  of the method, a choice of an interviewer language and a choice of an interviewee language are obtained  210  by logic in digital form. As described previously, the two language choices could be obtained in a variety of ways. For example, the interviewer might choose his language through a GUI on an interviewer graphics screen  115 . The interviewee might choose her language through a GUI on an interviewee graphics screen  145 , either directly or by a procedure such as the one described in the subsection below entitled  Choosing a Language by the Interviewee.    
     The step  220  in the flowchart designated “A” represents several options at this point in the method. In some embodiments, “A” is a null step and is simply ignored. In some embodiments, “A” includes a step of creating a ranked list of topics. Ordinarily, the step of creating a rank list will be performed by server system logic  175  and may utilize information stored in the server electronic storage  180 . In some embodiments, however, creating the ranked list occurs in the interviewer system  100 . 
     In step  230 , a ranked list, expressed in the language of the interviewer, is obtained by the interviewer system  100 . In some embodiments, the ranked list is obtained by receiving it across a network from a server. If the ranked list is created locally within the interviewer system  100 , on the other hand, the ranked list is obtained from the result of the creation step. The ranking is determined at least in part by a respective probability of each topic. How the ranking might be performed has been discussed previously in connection with  FIG. 1 . In some embodiments, also as discussed previously, the ranking is further determined by an expected loss associated with each topic. In some embodiments, the respective probability associated with each topic is determined at least in part upon information stored in a database regarding the interviewee. Typically, the database will be saved in the server electronic storage  180 . In the medical response example, the database could include identification, demographic, and medical records regarding the interviewee. The records might include information collected or measured earlier in the current interview. 
     The ranked list is then displayed  240  on the interviewer graphics screen  115 . A topic selection is received  250  by logic in the interviewer system  100 . Ordinarily, the interviewer will make this selection from the ranked list of topics through the GUI on the interviewer graphics screen  115 . 
     In some embodiments, step  260  in the flowchart designated “B” is a null step and is simply ignored. In other embodiments, “B” represents the step of transmitting the topic selection electronically across a network, ordinarily to the server system  170 . 
     A first interviewee information item, associated with the topic selection and expressed in the interviewee language, is obtained. Typically, this information item will have been received across a network, usually from the server system  170 . The first interviewee information item is then transmitted  280  using interviewee sound equipment  160  associated with the interviewee system  140 . 
     In some embodiments, step  290  in the flowchart designated “C” is a null step and is simply ignored. In other embodiments, “C” represents the step of receiving by the interviewer system  100 , from a network, an interviewer information item, said interviewer information item being expressed in the interviewer language and being associated with the topic selection; and the step of transmitting the interviewer information item by the interviewer system  100  in audio form using interviewer sound equipment  130 . The interviewer information item may or may not be distinct in meaning from the first interviewee information item. 
     In yet other embodiments, “C” represents the step of receiving, by the interviewee system  140 , from a network a second interviewee information item, said second interviewee information item being associated with the topic selection; and the step of displaying the second interviewee information item on an interviewee graphics screen  145  that is included in the interviewee system  140 . The interviewee graphics screen  145  and the interviewer graphics screen  115  may or may not be included in the same hardware device. In some such embodiments, displaying the second interview information item includes displaying a three dimensional object on the interviewee graphics screen  145  in a first configuration, and “C” includes the additional steps of obtaining an interviewee signal from an interviewee graphics screen  145 ; using logic on the interviewee system  140 , causing information relating to the interviewee signal to be sent to electronic storage; and using logic on the interviewee system  140 , displaying the three dimensional object in a translated or a rotated form relative to the first configuration. 
     The method ends at step  295 . 
     Summarizing Information for the Interviewer 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the invention in which the interviewer receives only a summary of an information item sent to the interviewee. After the start  300  of the method, an interviewer language is obtained  310  by logic and an interviewee language is obtained  320  by logic. A topic is obtained  330  from a user interface on an interviewer graphics screen  115 . A first information item associated with the topic is obtained  340 , expressed in the language of the interviewee. A second information item associated with the topic is obtained  350 , expressed in the language of the interviewer. In the illustrated embodiment, the second information item is distinct in meaning from the first information item; in particular, the meaning of the second information item could be a summary of the meaning of the first information item. In other embodiments, the first and second information items have the same meaning. The first information item is presented  360  in audio or visual form using interviewee sound equipment  160  associated with the interviewee system  140 . The second information item is presented  370  in audio or visual form using interviewer sound equipment  130  associated with the interviewer system  100 . The method ends  380 . 
     Choosing a Language by the Interviewee 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the invention in which the language of the interviewee is determined by interaction of the interviewee with successively more highly resolved maps. After the start  400  of the method, a choice of interviewer language is obtained  405  by logic. For example, the interviewer might select his language from a GUI on an interviewer graphics screen  115 . A current resolution is chosen, and a geographic map at that resolution is defined  410  to be a current map. For example, this initial map might be a map of the world at a sufficiently coarse resolution to fit on the screen  106 . 
     The current map is displayed  415  on an interviewee graphics screen  145 . A signal is received through a user interface on the interviewee graphics screen  145  that selects  420  a point on the current map. Logic then determines  425  whether the current map has sufficient resolution for a user to distinguish among regions shown by the current map where different languages are spoken. If the current map is still too coarse, a new current map is defined  430  to be a higher resolution map centered on the current point, and steps  415  through  425  are repeated using the new current map. 
     If the current map has sufficiently high resolution, then an interviewee language is chosen by associating the current point with a language spoken at the geographic location of the current point. The interviewee language, which is distinct from the interviewer language, is saved in storage  104 . 
     A topic is received  440  from a user interface on an interviewer graphics screen  115 . In some embodiments, this topic will be a topic selection chosen from a list of topics, usually a ranked list of topics. A first information item, associated with the topic and expressed in the interviewee language, will be obtained  445  by logic. For example, the first information item might be obtained by sending the topic to a server system  170  across a network, and receiving the first information item back from the server system  170 . The first information item is then presented  450  in audio or visual form using electronic equipment associated with the interviewee system  140 . For example, the first information might be a text item or an annotated digital image presented on the interviewee graphics screen  145 , or it might be a question presented in audio form through an interviewee headset  165  or interviewee speaker  166  to the interviewee. 
     A second information item, associated with the topic and expressed in the interviewer language, is obtained  455  by logic. As in the example previously discussed, sending the topic to the server system  170  could result in the second information item being received from the server system  170 . In some embodiments of the invention, the first information item is a translation of the second information item to the language of the interviewee. In other embodiments, the first and second information items have different meanings, such as when the second information item is a short summary of the first information item. Analogously to the first information item, the second information item is then presented  460  in audio or visual form using electronic equipment associated with the interviewer system  100 . The method then ends  470 . 
     Language Interpretation 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating language interpretation aspects of the invention. The embodiment shown in the flowchart assumes that language interpretation occurs on a server system  170  that communicates with the interviewer system  100  across a network  190 .  FIG. 5  gives a server-side perspective on the invention. Information will also be communicated from the server system  170  to the interviewee system  140 , but as discussed previously, this communication might be either direct or through the interviewer system  100 . The language interpolation might also occur on the interviewer system  100  or on the server system  170 , with some modifications to the flowchart that will be discussed below. 
     After the method starts  500 , a choice of interviewee language is obtained by logic. In the particular server-side embodiment shown, the interviewee language is received  505  from a network. The interviewee language could be sent through the network by the interviewer system  100  or the server system  170 . In other embodiments, how the interviewee language is obtained might not involve a network. 
     Next, a choice of interviewer language is obtained  510  by logic. The interviewer language might be obtained in a variety of ways. For example, it might have a default or even fixed value; it might be obtained from a database based upon the identity of the interviewer; or it might be entered by the interviewer through a GUI on the interviewer system  100  and received by the server system  170  through a network  190 . 
     A ranked list of topics is created  515 , the ranking based at least in part upon a respective probability associated with each topic. The topics in the list are expressed  520  in the language of the interviewer. In the embodiment illustrated, the list is sent  525  by the server system  170  to the network  190 . 
     In the next step  530 , a topic selection from the list is received from the network  190 . A first information item is associated  535  with the topic selection. Ordinarily, this is information associated with the topic that will be communicated to the interviewee in the interviewee&#39;s language. This information might be a question, an instruction, or a series of questions or instructions. A second information item is associated  540  with the topic selection. In the embodiment shown, the second information item has a distinct meaning from the first information. For example, the second information item might be a summary of the first information item. In other embodiments the two information items will have the same meaning. 
     Using a database, the first information item is expressed  545  in the interviewee language. The database might contain hundreds of possibilities for the interviewee language, rendering this process impossible to perform without the technology of the invention. The second information item  550  is expressed in the interviewer language. If there are more than one interviewer languages available, this step is also likely to involve retrieval from a database. 
     In the embodiment shown, the first and second information items are then sent  555  to the network. This step is not present in all embodiments of the invention. The method ends  560 . 
     Multiple Interviewers 
       FIG. 6  shows a configuration of the invention apparatus in which there are two interviewer systems  100  and an interviewee system  140 , connected by communications links shown as dashed lines and typified by the one labeled  191 . The interviewer systems  100  and the interviewee system  140  communicate with a server system  170  across a network  190 . Communication among the interviewer systems  100  and interviewee system  140  might be implemented with wireless technology such as Bluetooth. Typical components of these systems are shown in  FIG. 1 . There might be two interviewer languages in the illustrated configuration. Whether the interviewers choose the same language or not, information displayed on each respective interviewer graphics screen  115  and transmitted through each respective interviewer sound equipment  130  will be expressed in the language of that interviewer. The interviewee might prefer a language different from both interviewers, or might share a common language with one of them. Information displayed on the interviewee graphics screen  145  and transmitted through the interviewee sound equipment  160  will be expressed in the language of the interviewee, regardless of which interviewer system  100  may have caused a transmission to be sent to the interviewee system  140 . The invention encompasses embodiments wherein both interviewer systems  100  and the interviewee system  140  support all of the methods and functionality previously described in this document. 
     Multiple Interviewees 
       FIG. 7  shows a configuration of the invention apparatus in which there are two interviewee systems  140  and an interviewer system  100 , connected by communications links shown as dashed lines and typified by the one labeled  191 . The interviewer system  100  and the interviewee systems  140  communicate with an server system  170  across a network  190 . Communication among the interviewer system  100  and the interviewee systems  140  might be implemented with wireless technology such as Bluetooth. Typical components of these systems are shown in  FIG. 1 . There might be two interviewee languages in the illustrated configuration. Whether the interviewees choose the same language or not, information displayed on each respective interviewee graphics screen  145  and transmitted through each respective interviewee sound equipment  160  will be expressed in the language of that interviewee. The interviewer might or might not share a common language with one or the interviewees. Information displayed on the interviewer graphics screen  115  and transmitted through the interviewer sound equipment  130  will be expressed in the language of the interviewer. The invention encompasses embodiments wherein both interviewee systems  140  and interviewer system  100  support all of the methods and functionality previously described in this document. 
     Convertible Headset 
     A medical emergency is a good example of a situation in which a service provider needs a great deal of functionality both in capturing and utilizing measurements, and in communicating with a patient and potentially other people. An aspect of the invention is a headset that, in some embodiments, converts into a speaker system. In some embodiments, the headset is a data server, with interfaces both to sensors such as cameras and thermometers, and to one or more of the interviewer system, the interviewee system, and the server system. 
       FIG. 8  is a front view of an embodiment of a headset  111  of the invention that includes both speaker functionality and storage server functionality. In this form, the headset  111  can function as either an interviewer headset  135  or an interviewee headset  165 . The embodiment is shown in its head-mount configuration  860 . Other embodiments contain one or the other of these types of functionality, but not both. The headset  111  contains a headband  815  and two ear cups  800 , a left ear cup  801  and a right ear cup  802 . Some embodiments of the invention only include a single ear cup  800 . Audio information is transmitted to the user  811  through the ear cups  800 . The head  810  of the user  811  is shown dashed in the figure. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, the headband  815  includes two sections or arches  820 , a forehead arch  821  and a nape arch  822 . The forehead arch  821  fits around the forehead of the user  811 , and the nape arch  822  fits around the nape of the neck of the user  811 , typically at the base of the skull. While the two arches  820  are both essentially in horizontal planes when the headset  111  is being worn, the two planes are usually offset vertically for a better fit, providing stability and comfort for the user  811 . Also to give a better fit, the two arches  820  include two ribs  830 , an upper rib  831  and a lower rib  832 , typically fabricated from or covered with a soft material. 
     The embodiment shown in the figure is equipped with a pluggable component bus  840 , which will be discussed in detail in connection with  FIG. 24 through 26 . Shown dashed, two pluggable components  850 , are attached to the bus  840 . 
       FIG. 9  is included to define some terms relating to arch  820  geometry that will be used throughout the rest of this document. An arch  820  has a curved portion  900  and two tines  910 . An arch  820  in mathematics has zero thickness and lies strictly in a plane. When, as in the present invention, an arch  820  is fabricated from tangible materials, the arch  820  lies essentially in a plane. The shape of the arch  820  defines an opening direction  920 , indicated in the figure by an arrow. 
       FIG. 10  is a top view of the headset  111  in some embodiments of the invention. The headset  111  is in its head-mount configuration  860  showing the headband  815  with its two headband arches  820 . Transformation from this configuration into a speaker system requires a rotation of the forehead arch  821  and nape arch  822  relative to each other about the arch rotation axis  1050 . In this embodiment, each arch  820  consists of three headband segments  1010 , including a curved segment  1020  and two straight segments  1030 . In other embodiments, there could be more or fewer headband segments  1010 , or even a single one. The segments  1010  connect at joints  1060 . As will be described below, the arch  820  expands at its joints  1060 , permitting the headband  815  to be easily put on or taken off by the user  811 . In the head-mount configuration  860 , the ear cups  800  are oriented to primarily transmit sound inward in the transmission direction  1070  shown by the arrows in the figure. Note the transmission direction  1070  of each ear cup  800  is perpendicular to the opening direction  920  of each arch  820 .  FIG. 11  shows segments  1010  of the forehead arch  821  and the nape arch  822  separated at the joints  1060 . 
       FIG. 12  shows a single joint  1060  in a rib  830  of a headband arch  820 . The upper drawing shows the expanded joint  1200 ; the lower figure shows the contracted joint  1210 . The two segments  1010  of the rib  830  (arbitrarily oriented with a curved segment  1020  on the right of a straight segment  1030  are connected with an elastic connector  1220 , which might be in the form of a stretchable band or a stretchable cord. The elastic connector  1220  allows the rib  830  to be expanded to make the headset  111  easy to put on or take off, while keeping the fit snug on the head  810 . When the joint  1060  is contracted, one segment  1010  of the rib  830  fits inside the other, in a nesting or telescoping manner as shown. In this case, the elastic connector  1220  has a minimum length. When tension is applied to pull the segments  1010  apart, the elastic connector  1220  lengthens, and overall the length of the arch  820  increases. Ordinarily, to remove the headset  111 , the user  811  will pull forward on the forehead arch  821  with one hand and backward with the nape arch  822  with the other, then upward with both hands. 
       FIG. 13  shows controls and indicators, some or all of which may be included in various embodiments of the invention. These elements are shown on the ear cups  800 , but one or more of them may alternatively be located on the headband  815 . These include a power button  1300 , enabling or disabling electrical functionality of the headset  111 . A power indicator  1310  may indicate whether the headset  111  is powered on. 
     The headset  111  may have a mute button  1320  to disable sound from being broadcast electronically to the ear cups  800 , the status of muting being indicated by a mute indicator  1330 . In some embodiments, muting the ear cups  800  also removes a barrier  1370  to ambient sound entering the ear cups  800 . This could be implemented, for example, with a motorized trap door over an opening such as that shown in the figure or with a manual slider. A paramedic, for example, might need to hear what is going on around him without taking the headset  111  off. Muting the electronically transmitted sound would accomplish this without powering down the headset  111 . The ear cups  800  may have a fixed sound level, a sound level adjustment control in the headset  111 , or a sound level adjustment control in some other system in communication with the headset  111 , such as the interviewer system  100 . 
     The headset  111  might have a PAN interface  1340 , such as a Bluetooth interface. A PAN has limited range, which would be an advantage in a hospital context, and would be perfectly adequate for wireless communication between the headset  111  and the interviewer system  100  or the interviewee system  140  of the invention. 
     The headset  111  might also have a WAN interface  1350 , such as one providing TCP/IP connectivity. This would allow, for example, wireless communication between the headset  111  and the server system  170 . In some embodiments, the headset  111  is intimately involved with collecting and storing data from sensors, data that often will need to be recorded by the server system  170 . The headset  111  might also have a LAN interface  1370 , which might be useful in a business or home environment. 
     An expansion slot  1360  would be useful for a great variety of purposes, such as uploading data by wire, holding and powering a headlamp, or inserting a compact removal digital storage device. The expansion slot might be USB 2, FIREWIRE, or other technology. 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention when the headset  111  is in the broadcast configuration  1400 ; that is, when it is behaving as a speaker system. As shown, in this configuration, the ear cups  800  face in the same transmission direction  1070 . The arches  820  are folded on top of each other, so that they both are oriented with the same opening direction  920 . The sound-emitting surface  1410  of each ear cup  800  is shown. An ear cup  800  transmits audio information primarily outward from the ear cup  800  perpendicularly to the sound-emitting surface  1410 . Surrounding the sound-emitting surface  1410  in most embodiments is a soft surface or earmuff  1420 , standard in many prior art headsets, that both seals out external sound and makes the ear cup  800  fit comfortably against the ear of the user  811 .  FIG. 15  and  FIG. 16  are top and front views of the headset  111  in the broadcast configuration  1400 . 
     To transform from the head-mount configuration  860  to the broadcast configuration  1400 , the forehead arch  821  and the nape arch  822  of the headband  815  have to rotate relative to each other, and then the ear cups  800  have to turn outwards. In most embodiments, these steps are simply reversed to transform the headset  111  from the broadcast configuration  1400  to the head-mount configuration  860 .  FIGS. 17 through 21  give one particular structural implementation that enables the dual rotation. Many other configurations are possible that will not be shown, but which are within the scope of the invention. The inventive concept is independent of the particular implementation.  FIG. 17  shows a structure that implements pivoting of one of the arches  820  around the arch rotation axis  1050 . In this case, the nape arch  822  is configured to rotate toward the forehead arch  821 , but the alternate configuration is possible within the scope of the invention; or, both arches  820  could rotate independently. The nape arch  822  is attached to an inner disc  1700  that is adapted to rotate in an inner ring rotation direction  1720  (and in the opposite direction to transform the headset  111  from the broadcast configuration  1400  to the head-mount configuration  860 ) within a fixed outer ring  1710  to which the forehead arch  821  is attached. The structure shown in the figure can be part of the ear cup  800  itself, or part of a connector that couples the arches  820  to the ear cups  800 . 
       FIG. 18  is a view looking downward, illustrating an ear cup rotation mechanism  1800  for pivoting the ear cups  800  relative to the arches  820  of the headband  815 . In the embodiment shown, the structure of  FIG. 17  is integrated into a dual axis connector  1820  to which it is rigidly attached. Because of the complexity of the figure and because the ear cup  800  and dual axis connector  1820  are both in cross-section, nothing is hatched. The dual axis connector  1820  also includes a rigid portion that is a portion of a spherical shell, which appears circular in the cross-section of  FIG. 18 . This spherical portion includes a hollow track  1830  in which a guide tab  1840  attached to the rear surface (i.e., the surface opposite to the sound-emitting surface  1410 ) of the ear cup  800  can move. Given the geometry chosen in the embodiment of  FIG. 17 , the ear cup  800  is the left ear cup  801 . To convert the headset  111  to the broadcast configuration  1400 , the ear cup  800  shown would be rotated counter-clockwise about the ear cup rotation axis  1810 . If a right ear cup  802  had been shown in the figure, it would be similarly constructed, and would rotate clockwise to change from head-mount configuration  860  to broadcast configuration  1400 . 
       FIG. 19  is a figure analogous to  FIG. 18  showing the same portion of the headset  111  in broadcast configuration  1400 . Note that from this downward-looking perspective, the lower rib  832  of the forehead arch  821  obscures the other ribs  830 . Illustrating the guide tab  1840  in the track  1830 , section ‘BB’  1900  is shown in  FIG. 20 . As seen in  FIG. 21 , the guide tab  1840  in this particular embodiment is shaped like the upper-case letter ‘T’. The lower portion of the ‘T’ shape moves through a lower channel  2000  that was not shown in  FIG. 17  nor  FIG. 19 , while the upper portion moves in the track  1830  shown in those figures. The guide movement directions  2010  are depicted by arrows. 
       FIG. 21  illustrates a section ‘CC’  2020  through the guide tab  1840 . The guide tab  1840  and a portion of the ear cup  800  to which it is connected are shown hatched. The other structure in the figure is a cut through a portion of the dual axis connector  1820 . 
     When the headset  111  is in the head-mount configuration  860 , the maximum amplitude of the ear cups  800  will be less than in the broadcast configuration  1400 . This is enforced by the electronics using techniques that are well known in the art. Changing from one configuration to the other will automatically change the range of amplitudes available. If the headset  111  is powered on when the configuration is changed, the sound volume will automatically be changed proportionately lower relative to the maximum amplitude for that configuration. In some embodiments (not shown), the headset  111  includes a sound volume control. 
       FIG. 22  illustrates an embodiment of a method for transforming the configuration of the headset  111  from the head-mount configuration  860  to the broadcast configuration  1400 . The method is detailed for a single ear cup  800 , but comprises a subset of the steps required for two ear cups  800 . That case follows in the obvious way from the one presented in the figure. The method starts  2200  with the headset  111  in the head-mount configuration  860 . The user  811  pivots  2210  the forehead arch  821  relative to the nape arch  822  about the arch rotation axis  1050  until the opening direction  920  of the first arch  820  has essentially the same orientation as the opening direction  920  of the second arch  820 . The ear cup  800  is pivoted  2220  relative to a first tine  910  of each arch  820  about the ear cup rotation axis  1810  until the transmission direction  1070  of the ear cup  800  is oriented in essentially the same direction as the opening direction of the first arch  820 . This second rotation might be done manually, or it might be coupled to the first rotation to perform automatically by a mechanical or electrical system. The maximum sound level that can be transmitted through the first ear cup is automatically increased  2230  from a head-mount maximum sound level to a broadcast maximum sound level. 
       FIG. 23  illustrates an embodiment of a method for transforming the configuration of the headset  111  from the broadcast configuration  1400  to the head-mount configuration  860 . The method starts  2300  with the headset  111  in the broadcast configuration  1400 . The ear cup  800  is pivoted  2310  relative to a first tine  910  of each arch  820  about the ear cup rotation axis  1810  until the transmission direction  1070  of the ear cup  800  is oriented in essentially perpendicular to the opening direction of the first arch  820 . The forehead arch  821  is pivoted relative to the nape arch  822  about the arch rotation axis  1050  until the opening direction  920  of the first arch  820  has essentially the opposite orientation to the opening direction  920  of the second arch  820 . This second rotation might be done manually, or it might be coupled to the first rotation to perform automatically by a mechanical or electrical system. The maximum sound level that can be transmitted through the first ear cup  800  is automatically decreased  FIG. 24  from a broadcast maximum sound level to a head-mount maximum sound level. 
       FIG. 24  illustrates a headset processing system  2400 . Some headset  111  embodiments might be convertible to a speaker system, others might have a processing system  2400  like the one shown in the figure, and others might have both types of functionality. The processing system  2400  has a power system, which might include a battery  2440  or a power connection  2450  to an external source. The particular processing system  2400  shown in the figure includes a battery  2440  that is rechargeable from an external power connection  2450 . The processing system  2400  includes a processor  2410  and some form of memory  2420  for the processor to use to execute software instructions. The processor will operate under an operating system and will have communication access to the other components of the system. The processing system  2400  includes a storage system  2430 , typically including a controller and a storage device. The storage system  2430  might be a hard drive, a DVD drive, or any other system adapted to storing information in digital form. The processing system  2400  will typically include software programs that are executable by the processor  2410 . Such software programs, possibly augmented by hardware components, provide logic for functions to be performed by the processing system  2400 , such as logic allowing the headset  111  to act as a storage server. The processing system  2400  will include one or more network interfaces. A network interface might be a PAN interface  1340 , a WAN interface  1350 , or a LAN interface  1370 . These interfaces have already been described in connection with  FIG. 13 . In some headsets  111 , the WAN interface  1350  might be a wireless server, providing other devices with access to the WAN. The processing system  2400  might also include an expansion slot  1360 , which has also been discussed previously with  FIG. 13 . The processing system  2400  may also include a pluggable component bus  840 , such as described in connection with  FIG. 8 . 
     With all the components shown in the figure, the headset  111  can serve as a data collection hub for the translation system or any other application. Instruments can be controlled by the processing system  2400  through the pluggable component bus  840 ; they can upload data for storage in the storage system  2430 . The data can be transmitted to the interviewer system  100  or the interviewee system  140  on demand, or continuously while an instrument is operating. An industry standard expansion slot  1360 , such as a USB port, can provide a great variety of capabilities. The WAN interface  1350  will allow the headset  111  to communicate with the server system  170 . 
       FIG. 25  shows an embodiment of the pluggable component bus  840  in a side cross-section view. The pluggable component bus  840  provides bus alignment features  2500  to facilitate positioning the pluggable components  850  easily and accurately on the bus  840  and a coupling mechanism to attach the pluggable component  850  to the bus  840 . The figure depicts a particular embodiment in which the pluggable component bus  840  has female bus alignment features  2500  and a compatible pluggable component  850 , with dashed outline, has matching male device alignment features  2530 . An arrow  2540  shows how the pluggable component  850  will be moved to connect it to the pluggable component bus  840 . In the particular embodiment shown, the pluggable component bus  840  would include a magnetic surface, and the pluggable component  850  would have a surface adapted to being magnetically attracted to that surface, or conversely. The pluggable component bus  840  furnishes power to pluggable components  850  and facilitates communication between the pluggable components  850 , the processor  2410 , and other components of the processing system  2400 . 
       FIG. 26  illustrates a structure whereby power and communication can be transmitted between segments  1010  of an arch  820  of the headset  111 . Two connecting segments  1010  would be approximately cylindrical in cross-section, and be enclosed by an outer ring  1710 , such as that shown in cross-section, that contains a power surface  2630  made of conductive material contained in a channel. By appropriately sizing the diameters of the two outer rings  2600  and the sizes of their respective channels, the outer ring  1710  of one segment  1010  will fit inside of the outer ring  1710  of the other segment  1010 , with their power surfaces  2630  in contact with each other. Each segment  1010  can contain an inner ring  2610  that encloses a wire chase tube  2620  for holding wires to pass between the segments. The inner ring  2610  can be slotted to fit inside the outer ring  1710  as shown in the lower part of the figure. 
       FIG. 27  is a flow chart illustrating the data sensing and storage server functionality of the headset  111 . At the start  2700  of the process, a sensor collects  2710  data in digital form. The sensor transmits  2720  the data to a sensor interface, which is a pluggable component  850  that is plugged into a communication bus  840  in a headset  111 . The sensor interface receives the data over a wireless network (typically a PAN) and transmits  2730  the data across the bus  840 . The data are received from the bus  840  and stored  2740  in a storage system  2430  in the headset  111 . A request is received  2750  across a wireless network from an electronic digital device. The data are obtained from the storage system  2430  and transmitted  2760  across a wireless network to the requesting device, and the process ends  2770 . 
     Conclusion 
     The present invention is not limited to all the above details, as modifications and variations may be made without departing from the intent or scope of the invention. Consequently, the invention should be limited only by the following claims and equivalent constructions.