Technabob » translator

Vocre App Makes the Universal Translator Get Closer to Reality

Lambert Varias — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:00:58 +0000

One of the things that breaks my immersion when watching sci-fi shows is when everyone speaks the same language, from people of different nationalities to aliens (not to mention the dog and pig people in Dragonball). But many sci-fi franchises also address this real world convenience with a fictional explanation – the “universal translator.” A new app called Vocre (pronounced vo-cray) is trying to turn iOS devices into this mythical device.

A company called myLanguage made Vocre using their own technology, as well as magical bits from voice recognition company Nuance. Like most iOS apps, using Vocre is simple. Or at least it’s supposed to be simple – first, select the language and gender of the person you’re talking to. Then, while your iOS device is vertical, speak into the phone. Finally, tilt your device into a horizontal position to cue Vocre to translate what you just said, both verbally and orally.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Vocre is currently available on the iTunes App Store and can handle English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Mandarin. It seems like a great idea, one fit to be in a United Colors of Benetton commercial, but right now it has a couple of major drawbacks. First is the flip to translate gimmick, which is the only way to order Vocre to translate what’s been said. The problem is, reviews on the iTunes App Store have said that it’s faulty and doesn’t work all the time. Besides, I think it’s a totally unnecessary feature. What’s wrong with a virtual button? Or, if we insist on being flashy, why not have the speaker say a magic word at the end of his message to cue the app to translate instead?

This faultiness may be forgiven since it’s in its only been released recently, but the problem is compounded by myLanguage’s current pricing scheme – you get 10 free translations when you download the app, after which you’ll have to pay $0.99 (USD) per 10 translations, or $8.99 for 100 translations. You can see why that’s a disaster right? The wonky activation can lead to inadvertent translations, and each time that happens means that’s 10 cents gone. Hopefully myLanguage can improve the app and come up with a more forgiving pricing scheme. And add a Klingon language pack for kicks.

[via TechCrunch]

Scientists Working on Dolphin Translation Machine

Shane McGlaun — Tue, 10 May 2011 21:27:16 +0000

This sounds like something out of a science fiction TV show or movie, and in fact, it is. I used to really like SeaQuest DSV where they had a dolphin with a translator thing on its back that allowed it to talk to people. Some researchers are working on a translator device that is about the size of a smartphone that will allow them to communicate with wild dolphins underwater.

The project is being worked on by Denise Herzing of the Wild Dolphin Project and Thad Starner, and AI researcher from the Georgia Institute of Technology. The idea is that the device would allow the researchers to capture and reproduce sounds that they can perhaps turn into a useful language to allow communication with dolphins and to allow the dolphin to request things from the people too. The language will be simple words for things like ride the bow wave of the divers boat and more.

I didn’t realize how smart dolphins were; apparently, they can understand and respond to about 100 words. The device will be connected to the diver’s chest and will have two hydrophones to pick up sounds and show the diver what direction to go using LEDs on the goggles.

[via NewScientist]

Tele Scouter Translator Will Literally Let You See What Someone is Saying

Lambert Varias — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:21:14 +0000

NEC aims to overcome language barriers with the Tele Scouter, a system that will process spoken language and display a translation on a retinal display. To maintain the portability of the gadget, NEC split the Tele Scouter into three parts: an eyepiece, a small computer and a remote server.

Aside from the display, the microphone used to pick up speech is also mounted on the eyepiece. The mic sends data to the small computer, which is meant to be worn on a user’s waist. The computer then sends the data to the remote server, which takes care of the heavy stuff, converting speech to text and finally translating. Then the translated text is sent back to the computer, and finally displayed in the eyepiece. The text is displayed on the user’s peripheral vision, so you won’t go wall-eyed trying to read the translation.

…or so goes NEC’s big plan. Currently the system’s translating capability is not be good enough for real world application, so for now the device is being promoted as a convenient means of looking at user manuals or guides for engineers or technicians to use while their working on something. And since it can receive data from a remote server, the Tele Scouter can also be used to send instructions to several personnel all at once, in real time.

NEC will begin selling Tele Scouter systems next year. I don’t know if it will be fully functional by then, but even if it did it’s not like we’ll be able to afford it: a set-up good enough for 30 users will cost ¥750 million (approx. $8.3 million USD).

[via gizmag]

Trinvo Talking Translator: Say “I Can’t Understand You” in 12 Languages

Lambert Varias — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:12:46 +0000

We’ve already featured a talking translator before, but it looked intimidating and/or boring. Not the Trinvo. It’s a hip and handy talking translator equipped with the very original “navigational wheel.” Wherever you go, people will surely want to talk to you if only to ask what that gadget is that you’re holding. That’s “iPod ba yan?” in Filipino. You’re welcome.

The Trinvo can cross-translate between 12 languages, including Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), and Turkish. English isn’t supported. I’m kidding, of course it is. The Trinvo (supposedly) speaks using a native human voice, and it’s dictionary holds over 2,500 words as well as over 750 commonly used travel-related sentences for each of the included languages. I hope it can say “I have to urinate”, “I missed my flight”, and “Mommy”. You can also plug in a pair of headphones and listen to the built-in words and sentences via the 3.5 mm jack. You can buy a Trinvo for only £35 (approx. $58 (USD) at Gadgetshop. Hangman and Quiz games included.

[via Gadget Blog]

Bowlingual Voice: Dog Translator 2.0 Teaches Fido to Speak. Speak!

Technabob — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 11:30:17 +0000

Remember the BowLingual? Released in the early 2000′s, the device claimed that it could translate your dog’s barks into phrases and emotions that told you what your dog was thinking, or how it was feeling. Now the BowLingual has gotten a 2009 upgrade, which actually gives your dog a human voice.

Just place the bark-sensor collar around your pup’s neck, then grab the wireless controller and the BowLingual Voice will speak on your dog’s behalf. Unfortunately, the Bowlingual Voice only speaks as a Japanese lady at this point – which means that you’ll still have no idea what Scraps is saying unless you have a Japanese-to-English translator. What we really need is a Dog-to-Japanese-to-English translator.

Actually, I have a pretty good idea that Scraps is saying something like “get this damned ridiculous collar off my neck or I’ll bite your ass! How many Yen did you pay for this thing?!?!” Here’s a rather silly video of the device in action in case you or your dog care to watch…

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

More info on the BowLingual Voice can be found over at Japan’s TakaraTomy. No word on an updated MeowLingual for your cat, but it can’t be far behind.

Franklin International Translator Speaks 12 Languages

Technabob — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 16:34:58 +0000

If you travel a lot, you might want to check out the newly announced Franklin TGA-490 language translator that can actually speak in 12 different languages.

The new portable translator not only translates over 450,000 words and 12,000 phrases, it contains recorded samples of speech to provide accurate pronunciation in all 12 languages. The TGA-490 speaks in Mandarin Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. The compact package also features an MP3 player, currency converter, world alarm clock and voice recorder.

The Franklin TGA-490 Universal Speaking Translator will be available starting this February for $229.95 USD.