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Sony Unveils PSP Translator
jonerik writes "Sony has released software for its popular PSP handheld gaming device called TalkMan. In development for some time now, the program currently stores about 3,000 conversation patterns in English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese. 'A user may speak the words "Koko-wa-dokodesuka?" (Where is this?) in Japanese, for example, into the device's microphone, upon which a cartoon bird acting as an interpreter will pop up and start talking in the user's language. The bird is also able to translate the reply into Japanese.' A European release for TalkMan is expected in the spring."
Now I don't have to rely on the stupid dubs when watching hentai movies on psp...
"Koko-wa-dokodesuka-rootkit?"
It replies:
"what rootkit?"
'A user may speak the words "Koko-wa-dokodesuka?" (Where is this?) in Japanese, for example, into the device's microphone, upon which a cartoon bird acting as an interpreter will pop up and start talking in the user's language.
Popular phrases used to test the device are "Polly wants a cracker?", "I thought I saw a putty-tat!", and "I did! I did see a putty-tat!" To date, most American users are put off by the device's inability to translate "putty-tat", a common term for the average house cat. Sony has promised to take a look at this issue.
Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
It is rumored that the bluetooth ear piece resembles a small yellow fish.. The user by placing the earpiece into their ear canal can now understand all language, and though logic unbeknownst to us, disproves the existance of god.
Next Sony will probably make the announcement that they will own all conversations facilitated by the PSP. They will implement DRM to enforce this. Should you want to playback your conversation, you will need to rent it.
http://www.commodore69.com/
This is actually really slick. I hate to support Sony nowadays, but this is exactly the sort of utility that will make hardware like the PSP more useful to people. Hopefully in the near future all our PDA's and Cellphones will be able to translate live as we talk.
:)
I hope theres an option to have a talking Paperclip though, I'd feel more at home with that. <sarcasm/>
Let me know when its in a device that will fit in my ear
Big ones, small ones, some as big as yer 'ead!
Give 'em a twist, a flick o' the wrist...
You've been able to import this from Lik-Sang for quite some time now. In fact, here is their hands on review from Nov.
A user may speak the words "Koko-wa-dokodesuka?" (Where is this?) in Japanese, for example, into the device's microphone, upon which a cartoon bird acting as an interpreter will pop up and start talking in the user's language. The bird is also able to translate the reply into Japanese.'
I'm glad that Bonzi Buddy has been able to find a new job.
Where does the school board find them and why do they keep sending them to ME?
"The technology is said to be able to translate some 50,000 Japanese words and 25,000 English words." I'm not surprised this thing was invented in japan -- since japanese only has 5 basic vowel sounds and no consonant clusters, it must be easier for the software to encode. That, and it makes sense to support the language of the people you are marketing it to.
This game has already been on shelves for a long time in Japan. I suppose it could be used as a translator, but it's definitely not useful as something a person could quickly pull out to get a translation. That talking bird is annoying as hell -- think going through 3 menus just to get to clippy. Barf. You also need to have an awkward mic plugged into the USB port that renders all carrying cases useless.
What's cool about this game isn't its ability to translate, but moreso its capacity to correct pronunciation until it's perfect. The game is really stellar at correcting a person's pronunciation and intonation in each language. I imagine it's also a great way to learn some basic phrases before going somewhere.
There's a really neat game that just came out for the DS that focuses on dictation. The game will say an English sentence, for example, and the player must write that sentence onto the screen as quickly as possible with the stylus. The Japanese have all sorts of neat language and "edutainment" games -- too bad we don't get in on the fun in the West.
Unfortunately so far it only translates into an incomprehensible dead language.
Speaks into PSP: Konichiwa
Reply from PSP: Bonjour
Auron may be different, Cally, but on Earth it is considered ill-mannered to kill your friends while committing suicide.
Putty-tat is owned by Warner Brothers Studio, part of AOL Time Warner. If you think that ATW is going to license a competing studio -- Sony -- to use their intellectual property then you are crazier than Daffy Duck (also owned by ATW, and emphatically not licensed for use in this Slashdot post.)
"It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
Sure. My Japanese is restricted to what I pick up from anime, but the phrase here was fairly simple:
'Koko wa doko desu ka'
'Doko desu ka' means 'where is it?'. Whatever you stick before 'wa' is the it to which 'doko desu ka' refers. 'Koko' is 'here', so the question is effectively 'where is here?' or in better English, 'where is this?'
So, you want p0rn? Simple. 'P0rn wa doko desu ka'. Except that you'll probably have to spell it in Japanese lettering at some point, so 'Porunno wa doko desu ka' might be the way forward :)
Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
My hovercraft is full of eels.
A European release for TalkMan is expected in the spring.
Oh goodie! I've always wanted to learn to speak European!
I do not want this tobacconist, it is scratched.
This has been covered twice on Slashdot already. Twice.
July 12th, 2004
November 26th, 2005
As for decent games: All I ask for is an RPG! A nice RPG!
If it's for-profit but free, you're not the customer -- you're the product (e.g., the Slashdot Beta's "audience").
Rootkit ga doko desu ka?
Koko wa doko desu ka? is a perfectly acceptable sentence if you're asking where you are at this moment in time (standing in the middle of Harajuku with your Lonely Planet guide held upside down, for instance) or if you're pointing to a spot on the map and asking how you might find that place.