The tech giant that started as a search engine has unveiled its latest project: a speech-to-speech translator. The software, still in production, would allow real-time translation of speech from one language to another when used on Google Android based devices. Other devices could be announced at another time, such as a Windows Mobile App, however only Android was mentioned in early reports.
Google is using a combination of their text translation and voice recognition technologies, but these will have to be perfected before the new translator is feasible. The device, if it performs as promised, could revolutionize intercultural communication.
Speech translators are well known in science fiction such as the Babel Fish from Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and the universal translator from the Star Trek universe. [Times Online]
Posted on 08 February 2010 by | Author: Nicholas | Posted In: Technology