Slashdot Mirror
Computer Translator Ready for Testing in Iraq
cgibby98 wrote to mention a Wired News story about a battle-zone translation technology that may allow near real-time conversations between English and Arabic speakers. From the article: "Funded by Darpa, the system would allow troops to communicate in Arabic through a laptop computer equipped with voice recognition and translation software. Troops could speak in English and have their words instantly translated into Iraqi Arabic, 'spoken' by a computerized man's voice. The program also translates Arabic into English. Will it replace the need for an interpreter when you're having some sort of high-level conversation? Absolutely not. But it is absolutely to the point where it could be useful in some carefully chosen situations."
Language butchers YOU!
Intelligent Design: because MATH is HARD.
I swear! I swear to you, I was only asking him if his hovercraft was full of eels! Stop fondling my buttocks!
This have disaster writed all over it!
Will it fit in my ear?
Trusting a computer to do real-time translation in a volatile, war-torn region...
English: "We applaud the creation of your new constitution and are preparing to pull our troops out of the country so that the rebuilding process can begin."
Arabic: "All your base are belong to us."
Have that thing read the Koran from arabix to english and then vice versa, then by the number offended devided by all moslims gives you a nice error rate.
Will it be able to instantly start translating from an alien language that it has never heard before as soon as the other person appears on the main viewer?
Drill baby drill - on Mars
Soldier: I said "where are the bombs?"
Prisoner: I told you! I only have one Mom!
Wash, rinse, repeat.
><));>
I'm only doing this to fund my College, so don't make me shoot
That's not Napalm, that's MK77
We have an Embedded Reporter, we will be handing out Sweets and having a laugh
I don't know when your government or mine is going to pull me out of here either.
[% slash_sig_val.text %]
Stop! Don't run! We are your friends!
"My Hovercraft is full of eels!"
no, its a balm like an ointment...
always mosh clockwise
I tried out the online demo that works through the web browser. I wondered what "I hope the weather is clement when you arive" would translate into. You get:
"durka durka mohammed jihad durka durka"
Super!
Bill Clinton: Pimp we can believe in. - The Shirt!!!
English: We are here to save you!
Translation: We are here to collect you!
Seems to work fine to me!
"That's so plausible, I can't believe it!" - Leela
Administration-enabled translator: We are so happy that you love America for toppling your eeeeeeevil dictatorship!
American soldier 2: Hoo yah, we're gonna git us some awl!
Administration-enabled translator: We are going to train you to defend yourselves before we leave!
American soldier 3: Dude, I was totally kidding about your sister
Administration-enabled translator: Why do you HATE FREEDOM?!
American soldier 4: See, we worship the same thing, really - God, Allah, means the same thing!
Administration-enabled translator: Praise JESUS!
Intelligent Design: because MATH is HARD.
Or better yet... A little squawky voice that says:
"WE COME IN PEACE! WE COME IN PEACE!"
Apologies to Tim Burton.
"I am the king of the Romans, and am superior to rules of grammar!"
-Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor (1368-1437)
My sources tell me that this has been in heavy use by the CIA for some time, at secret installations in Eastern Europe. I guess, it took time to ramp up for Iraq as there was an expected increase in vocabulary. Apparently for the CIA the device merely had to handle screaming and whimpering of the word 'No' for the various languages in use.
It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
"My hovercraft is full of eels"
Sometimes my arms bend back.
Funded by Darpa[...]
I could have sworn it was funded by Durka Durka...