Google's Handheld Translator Seeks to Cross Language Barriers

By Jeremy Hsu Posted 02.08.2010 at 3:02 pm 7 Comments

Google Android

Google's vision for a better world involves removing those pesky language barriers that keep people apart, and so the Internet search giant has begun development on a voice recognition and automatic translation system for cell phones. Such technology could either herald a new era of fruitful international collaboration or usher in new grievances and conflicts, depending on your viewpoint. The Times makes the obligatory reference to the Babel Fish of Hitchhiker's Guide that spawned bloody interstellar conflicts.

Experts remain divided over whether Google can accomplish its goal within several years, but the company may stand the best chance of doing so. So far, smart phone voice translators for English speakers have only come out for specific languages such as Japanese and Arabic.

Google already has a separate system for translating text on computers that covers 52 languages, and uses the company's special algorithms to continually scan millions of websites and documents as a form of improvement. It would presumably try to integrate the translation system with its more basic voice recognition system for smart phone commands.

This is just the latest of many Google projects that have surfaced over the past few months, including speeding up drug discovery, launching an energy subsidiary, and teaming up with the National Security Agency on cybersecurity efforts.

Considering Google's recent troubles in China, the company probably wouldn't mind a world with fewer international barriers to entry for businesses. But crossing the language barrier alone would only be a first step toward bridging cultural differences and realizing that Firefly future where we all speak Anglo-Mandarin.

[via The Times]

Previous Article: China Takes Down Hacker Training Camp Boasting Tens of Thousands of Users

Next Article: Endeavour Lifts Off in Space Shuttle's Final Night Launch

7 Comments

Link to this comment

spartacus613

02/08/10 at 4:33 pm

lol, you know i'd buy this even if it didn't completely work, hell aslong as it does as good a job translating as the free ones online, then it would be useful, (canadian, that can only speak and write english, if your canadian you'll understand why it would be nice, esp if you live in the east),

Link to this comment

alienworld

02/08/10 at 4:50 pm

The future in translating will be through blue tooth wireless devices that will transmit translations via audio uploads in all major languages in real time. Either connected to cloud computing via the internet or your laptop or smart phone. Basically a hearing aid that will translate the language in real time. Learning a new language could not be easier when traveling to a foreign country.

Link to this comment

Visual Kei Otaku

02/10/10 at 5:37 am

I must have this when or if I ever go to Japan!

It'll make it easier buying Doujins and learning about Japanese culture.

Link to this comment

Hungary

06/18/10 at 11:16 am

It would be useful and good for everbody if we can cross the language barrier and cultural differences. I'd buy this, too.

Visit Hungary: www.hungriabonita.com/hungria

Link to this comment

flemo

08/01/10 at 10:55 am

very well. Pleasant news.

http://www.women-girls.com

Link to this comment

scoth

09/20/10 at 6:36 am

Exciting, but I don't buy it. Those of us with Google Voice know that Google is having a hard enough time with English transcription. Most everything I get from them is borderline jibberish.

This is a classic case of cascading errors. The following three things need to happen in series. Errors introduced in one step will lead to even bigger errors in the subsequent steps:

1. Transcription to text in source language (as mentioned above, far, far, far from perfect, at least for English)
2. Translation from text in source language to text in final language (based on Google Translate, this sort of works to get the basic point of a webpage in another language, the finer points are generally lost)
3. Text-to-speech in the final language (of the three, this is closest to being ready)

If we say that step one is 25% accurate, step two is 50%, and step three is perfect (all very generous), we're looking at an overall accuracy of 12.5%. I'd hazard you need at least 80% before it could be considered usable.

I'll check back in a few years...

Link to this comment

VicDi2010

09/30/10 at 5:24 am

Google is shifting the bar one again. How easy will it be for people to engage with those who we would normally avoid or spend countless hours attempting to learn a new language. Interesting times are ahead!

Regards,
Vic
www.translia.com

Popular Tags

Technology

All Tags All Photos All Videos

Technology

+ More Photo Galleries

June 2013: American Energy Independence

Five amazing, clean technologies that will set us free, in this month's energy-focused issue. Also: how to build a better bomb detector, the robotic toys that are raising your children, a human catapult, the world's smallest arcade, and much more.