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."

Comments

In Sunni-controlled Iraq...

[geekpuppySEA]

Language butchers YOU!

Oh teh noes

[paranode]

This have disaster writed all over it!

Re:Oh teh noes

[identity0]

Ah, but will it be able to replicate the great cross-cultural interactions from Hollywood movies?

Soldier: Ma'am, have you seen any suspicious men in the area?
Translator: Woman, have you been consorting with men not of your family?

Iraqi: Fuck you!
Translator: Me love you long time.

Soldier: What the fuck?
Translator: Which way shall we fornicate?

Iraqi: Agh, you Americans make me so aggravated!
Translator: Me so horny.

hilarity ensues. Face it, you know these are going to be programmed by lonely geeks with dirty thoughts on their minds.

Bad idea.

[Anonymous Coward]

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."

Re:Bad idea.

[vux984]

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."

Wow, this is the most advanced translater built. Unlike most which simply try direct literal translations, this one can actually parse the intent of what Bush actually meant when he said that!

Bravo!

Ah, but...

[fiannaFailMan]

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?

I've tried out the online demo and it's sweet!

[Rude Turnip]

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!

Danger!

[Dog135]

English: We are here to save you!
Translation: We are here to collect you!

Seems to work fine to me!

Re:But...

[Minwee]

Only if you hang your robe on the hook, put the towel over the grate, drop your satchel in front of the panel and then put the pile of junk mail on top of the satchel before pressing the dispenser button.