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Google Shooting For Smartphone Universal Translator

nikki4 writes to tell us that in giving some major improvement tweaks to its existing voice recognition tool for the Smartphone, Google is aiming for new translator software that will provide instant translation of foreign languages. "The company has already created an automatic system for translating text on computers, which is being honed by scanning millions of multi-lingual websites and documents. So far it covers 52 languages, adding Haitian Creole last week. Google also has a voice recognition system that enables phone users to conduct web searches by speaking commands into their phones rather than typing them in. Now it is working on combining the two technologies to produce software capable of understanding a caller’s voice and translating it into a synthetic equivalent in a foreign language."

11 of 178 comments (clear)

  1. Google is not far from Engrishisfunny.com... by zero_out · · Score: 5, Funny

    Maybe my experience is atypical, but Google doesn't seem to translate pages very well. I can only imagine how bad it will be having a phone do this. "Did that guy's phone just call me what I think it did?"

  2. Or... by fatherjoecode · · Score: 3, Funny

    Or you could just stick this Babel fish in your ear.

  3. Warning Label by Ukab+the+Great · · Score: 4, Funny

    Caution: not for use with Hungarian Tobacconists.

    1. Re:Warning Label by Arancaytar · · Score: 3, Funny

      My telephone is full of eels!

    2. Re:Warning Label by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      It's "hovercraft". My telephone is full of hovercraft.

    3. Re:Warning Label by boristdog · · Score: 3, Funny

      My nipples explode with delight!

  4. But can it translate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Shaka, when the walls fell"

  5. Apple will perfect it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    No doubt Google will try and fail, while Apple will try and succeed. They are just that good.

  6. Bloom County by snspdaarf · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Gorbachev Sings! Tractor! Buttocks!"

    --
    Why, without your clothes, you're naked, Miss Dudley!
  7. Re:Got NSA by girlintraining · · Score: 3, Funny

    And they probably started working on it a decade or two ago, and have a working version now :P

    I can't confirm or deny its existance. But I can offer you one reason for the denial: The FBI. If we admitted we had it, they'd want to use it. The last time they asked for forensic analysis, it was for their cross-dressing commander who wanted to know who had shit on his front doorstep. After intensive analysis, it was determined to be a squirrel. Then they called us because they couldn't identify which squirrel. We've been hesitant to offer our services ever since. We did find the squirrel though. In another 23 years, you'll be able to submit an FOIA request for the rest of the story. Footnote 16 is especially amusing.

    --
    #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
  8. Voice by Fengpost · · Score: 2, Funny

    This would be great if all calls are translated and spoken by a sexy female voice!

    --
    The purpose of writing is to inflate weak ideas, obscure poor reasoning, and inhibit clarity....Calvin