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PDA Speech Translator

Posted by michael on from the someday-it'll-cost-$9.99 dept.

jlowery writes "Not quite as good as a babelfish, but a PDA that does translation is probably better than resorting to hand gestures alone. I could see this as a boon to the tourist who travels to places where English speakers are uncommon."

4 of 161 comments (clear)

  1. Had to be said by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "All your base are belong to us!"

  2. Good Idea... by avgjoe62 · · Score: 5, Funny
    > I could see this as a boon to the tourist who travels to places where English speakers are uncommon.

    Yeah, I could really use one of these when I go from Fort Lauderdale to Miami...

    --

    How come Slashdot never gets Slashdotted?

  3. I can see it now... by stienman · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Are you speaking the english?"

    "I speak to the English, it's the Americans I won't talk to..."

    -Adam

  4. "My hovercraft is full of eels" by NZheretic · · Score: 5, Funny
    With apologies to the python crew...

    Text on screen: In 2004, the World Trade Center lay in ruins, and foreign nationalists frequented the streets - many of them Arabs (not the streets - the foreign nationals). Anyway, many of these Arabs went into tobacconist's shops to buy cigarettes....

    A Arab tourist approaches the shopclerk. The tourist is talking haltingly into a PDA.

    Arab: I will not buy this record, it is scratched.
    Clerk: Sorry?
    Arab: I will not buy this record, it is scratched.
    Clerk: Uh, no, no, no. This is a tobacconist's.
    Arab: Ah! I will not buy this *tobacconist's*, it is scratched.
    Clerk: No, no, no, no. Tobacco...um...cigarettes (holds up a pack).
    Arab: Ya! See-gar-ets! Ya! Uh...My hovercraft is full of eels.
    Clerk: Sorry?
    Arab: My hovercraft (pantomimes puffing a cigarette)...is full of eels (pretends to strike a match).
    Clerk: Ahh, matches!
    Arab: Ya! Ya! Ya! Ya! Do you waaaaant...do you waaaaaant...to come back to my place, bouncy bouncy?
    Clerk: Here, I don't think you're using that thing right.
    Arab: You great poof.
    Clerk: That'll be six and six, please.
    Arab: If I said you had a beautiful body, would you hold it against me? I...I am no longer infected.
    Clerk: Uh, may I, uh...(takes PDA, talks to it)...Costs six and six...ah, here we are. (speaks weird Arabic-sounding words)
    Arab punches the clerk.

    Meanwhile, a cop on a quiet street cups his ear as if hearing a cry of distress. He sprints for many blocks and finally enters the tobacconist's.

    Cop: What's up
    Arab: Ah. You have beautiful thighs.
    Cop: (looks down at himself) WHAT?!?
    Clerk: He hit me!
    Arab: Drop your panties, Sir William; I cannot wait 'til lunchtime. (points at clerk)
    Cop: RIGHT!!! (drags Arab away by the arm)
    Arab: (indignantly) My nipples explode with delight!