Darpa testing laptop-based translation system for Iraq
posted Nov 19th 2005 3:40PM
We can't confess to being fully aware of the dangers of working as a battle-zone translator in Iraq, but we've got a pretty good idea, so we're happy to know that Darpa is funding research into a laptop based system for voice to voice translation. A follow-up to the ever popular PDA-based "Phraselator", the new system being tested doesn't rely on the literacy of the participant, or on their proclivity to handheld devices. To translate, the system takes the spoken words, transcribes and translates them with some help from the statistics of relevant phrases, and then outputs the communication audibly in the other language, English to Arabic or vice versa. Obviously this isn't nearly to the point of a replacement for the real deal, but it should work as a solution for some basic situations… basic situations that are about to become much more entertaining due to rampant communication errors.
Will it be able to dechipher slang?
As if translating arabic languages was not pain in the ass with real live translators..
I wonder if it will translate swearing and bad words into less harsh words to ease tensions LOL.
That laptop just looks hard core. i don't care about any of this translation crap :p
Hmm... Am I the only one here who read Battlefield Earth? In it these aliens bring down from space a little box that when you talk into it the box translates for you... kinda freaky.... heh, not that I would consider DARPA aliens though....
Very bad idea - human translators don't just translate... they communicate, act as emissaries, help to calm situations and elicit help and information.
How will a laptop do this?
When will US military leaders realise that technology can be as much a hindrence as a help. The soldiers on the ground know this - they have to struggle with tech that doesn't work, and they don't have the training to deal with situations the 'traditional' way
"Hmm... Am I the only one here who read Battlefield Earth?"
you and all your sick Scientologist friends.
a better example predating that one in sci-fi would be the babelfish from Hitchhikers Guide... or the more obvious Universal Translator from even the earliest of Star Trek.
I will not buy this record, it is scratched. My hovercraft is full of eels. Do you want to come back to my place, bouncy-bouncy? Drop your panties Sir William, I cannot wait 'till lunchtime.
I wonder how you say "screw this, let's go home" in arabic.
If they refuse to speak, you could always beat them with the laptop... damn to pana's are solid, droped one once, several times in fact (it was due for an upgrade ok, but it had to break before they'd replace it ;) ), but it just wouldn't break.