Want a job at Microsoft? Well, you’d better break out the Next Generation DVDs, because apparently being a Trekkie is an asset. Microsoft is already working on a holodeck, but that’s not the only Trek staple they’re striving to make a reality — they also have a universal translator in the works.
Microsoft engineers have created a software program that can analyse your voice, translate what you’re saying, then replicate your voice in another language. It works with 26 different languages, so in theory you could have a computer-generated voice that sounds very much like yours reading a speech in French, Italian or Mandarin.
There are still some kinks to work out — it takes around an hour for the program to get a sense of your voice, and even then it will sound kind of robot-ey in any language but English. Nevertheless I’m still anticipating a future where I don’t have to learn any new languages — frankly I’m not that great at this English one to begin with.
Random nerdy Trek-related observation — a guy named Frank Soong developed Microsoft’s universal translator. The fictional doctor that created Data from Next Generation was named Noonien Soong. Suddenly all this Trek tech coming out of Microsoft makes sense.
via DVICE & TechnologyReview
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The whole “Soong” thing is pretty mindblowing.
“To learn german language I am using Speechtrans and I think speechtrans aquires more advance technology then what microsoft is offering. Speechtrans is most accurate app with most organic output voices, works on all versions of the iPhone, 3rd Generation iPod Touch, iPads and Android devices. The app helps me alot while travelling because Speechtrans supports total 28 languages and also upgrades new languages to existing users for free.
The InterprePhone service is the latest innovation and lets the users communicate, without the need of an interpreter, via a telephone conference call.
SpeechTrans apps can be used as your personal portable interpreter Facebook chat service integration allows users to communicate in different languages with outstanding clarity and minimal translation processing delay. Learn more at [speechtrans.com]“