Post: #26

Did you guys know that somebody wrote the word gullible on the ceiling above you?

Not only do these companies not discuss any real details of their proprietary software, they're currently relying on crowdfunding for capital. Alarm bells are ringing. If this technology actually existed (it doesn't), Google/Microsoft/Apple would've snatched it up or at least funded it. But Google can't even do real time translation! What makes you think a scrappy tech entrepreneur who wanted to impress a girl invented software far more advanced than anything Google has been able to do?

The technology isn't there yet, and honestly it won't ever be there in our lifetimes. Languages are far too complex a thing, and real-time translation is frankly impossible due to things like grammar syntax. Many languages hide important markers like tense, certain verbs, and sentence modifiers at the very end which completely change the meaning of sentences when translated into English, meaning that the software would at least have to wait until the sentence is over to translate. Of course, we don't speak with punctuation or even correct grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Translating across language families (Chinese -> English, for example) yields mostly gibberish due to the vast differences in history, culture, expressions, vocabulary, and grammar. Furthermore, most people speak dialects which are often quite different from the standard or basic accent taught in schools. These are just a few limitations such a software would encounter. But beyond that, it would struggle even if it could analyze everything via text. Try putting a paragraph of Chinese text into Google translate (the best online translator currently available) and read what it spits out in English. It will be mostly nonsense and it goes to show you the limitations even the best technology has when it comes to human language.

So, sorry to burst your bubble, but this is 100% unadulterated BULLSHIT. Over and out.

Post: #27

The delivery date isn't until May 2017 - by then I plan to be far along in my studies.

It seems very awkward to use it.

Post: #28

Totally agree with Space Cowboy. I'd like the add the fact that a lot of people can't even detect sarcasm on the internet in their own language. How would humour and puns be translated? Also in some languages regional differences and accents play a huge role (English for example). You can't translate everything, this would require a lot of notes to really convey the original message and even then it might be ambiguous. I can't really see this ever becoming better than learning a language. However, it might come in handy at times.