Computer Translator Ready for Testing in Iraq

Posted by Zonk on Friday November 18, 2005 @07:21AM from the real-life-applications-for-max-headroom dept.

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."

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Yay! by Caspian · 2005-11-18 07:34 · Score: 0, Redundant

So now the soldiers can march around Iraq saying "My hovercraft is full of eels" in Arabic.

Or maybe "ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO U.S.".

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With spending like this, exactly what are "conservatives" conserving?
Monty Python says, "bad idea." by goodmanj · 2005-11-18 07:36 · Score: 0, Redundant

My hovercraft is full of eels!