Post: #1

No longer are the days of walking into a restaurant in a foreign country and racking your brains over its menu. Or not being able to understand what your local fruit vendor is saying to you. Google just added real-time voice-translation to their Google Translate app.

Quote:Google this week released an updated version of its Google Translate app, with two major new features. The first lets you point your phone camera at a sign or piece of text and see a translation of it in real-time. The second instantly translates speech into different languages. All you have to do is press the microphone icon on the app's interface, select the two languages you want to bridge, and speak into the microphone on your device. The app will automatically recognize which of the two languages you're speaking, and a female voice will repeat it to you in the other language.

As an American who's been living in Paris for seven years, my life is basically one big language barrier. I've chipped away at it over the years, thanks to friends and extremely patient girlfriends, to the point where I'm now close to fluent. But I still sympathize with the American tourists I see trying to make sense of a menu or ask for directions, because it reminds me of that empty pit of fear I felt when I first arrived here and realized I could barely carry a conversation with a three-year-old, let alone the sullen, Vogue-smoking women with whom I had intense, 48-hour relationships in the Godard movie of my mind.

I'm not sure if the new Google Translate app would've made much of a difference in my quest for French fluency or fraught flings, but it definitely would've made everyday life easier. The app's speech recognition is fast and mostly accurate, and the French it spits back is understandable, for the most part. It also helps to hear that lilting French cadence which was always so hard for me to nail down. I found the camera feature to be surprisingly effective for signs, but it became a bit jumbled when you point your phone at a chunk of text. It also wasn't as accurate with longer translations. A semi-poetic block of text outside my local bakery was translated accurately for the most part, but the app missed some words — "dans" remained in French, and "ce fournil" should be "this bakery," not "this provides."


There are some glitches with the speech feature, too. If you want to say "I have some weed" in French, Google will say "Je ai quelques mauvaises herbes." If you say that, people will laugh, because "Je ai" should be "J'ai," and that's not the kind of weed you're talking about. Similarly, "Can we get high?" becomes "Pouvons-nous prendre de la hauteur?" which is something only French pilots would say.


There are some other quirks, as well. The app apparently recognizes biblical context, automatically capitalizing "He gave unto us His only begotten Son," but I was dismayed to see that the word "fuck" is blocked by default. If you say, for example, "Shall we fuck?", as one does, Google responds with "Allons-nous f asterisk asterisk asterisk?" I later realized this can be avoided by changing a setting that automatically blocks offensive language, which is highly recommended if you want to have fun. It also gets weird if you go in the other direction, especially if you want to translate French slang. "T'as chopé des meufs?" should mean "Did you hook up with any girls?" To Google, it means "You got busted for chicks?"


Ultimately, though, I'm probably not the target audience for this app. I may use it when I get stuck on a word, or want to get a point across, but it would pay the biggest dividends for French novices — tourists who just want to find the Louvre, or that one bridge with all the locks on it. Which is great! Just don't expect it to make you sound French.

http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/15/755106...d-hands-on

I think it will be most useful for people who make brief stays in foreign countries. For example, I'm going to Peru next month for 2 weeks and while it would be nice to be able to converse in Spanish, I do not have the time to learn Spanish. Google Translate's new update mitigates this problem.

Post: #2

Good idea but it's a lazy solution. This is just like the Tinder autoliking apps in my opinion. If you're too lazy to learn the basics of a foreign language and have to rely on technology then your game is wack or inexistant. I can see the utility for hard languages like Rusian or Farsi but it's not like Spanish or French are incredibly difficult.

Post: #3

One less excuse to actually learn a language.

Post: #4

Just checked this out on my phone. Very cool and works pretty damn well.

Post: #5

Fantastic! They way I see it, this will make it very easy to start learning a new language. I might get a bit awkward at chatting to girls through the app, and I probably wouldn't recommend it, but once you start to pick up on a few phrases chatting with locals in general, learning the native language will be a breeze since starting is the hardest part.

Post: #6

The real time voice translation has been on there for awhile, but I never saw the camera phone translator before.

Keep in mind that if you're in some remote place with no data connection you'll have to communicate the old fashioned way.

I think it's a great innovation. It's not intended to be a replacement for learning a language. It's supposed to help you out in situations when you get stuck. There are many languages I have no interest in learning as they have extremely limited use outside their mother country, such as Mandarin. But I'd be completely lost if I ever took a trip to China. This would at least help you navigate your way around. Imagine coming down sick and having to explain to a doctor or pharmacist in Chinese what's wrong with you. This is a great life-line to fall back on.

Post: #7

Given the hilarious incompetency of Google Translate where languages with genders, pluralities and cases are concerned (i.e. Slavic languages), don't think that this will help you in Eastern Europe...

Post: #8

(01-18-2015 03:45 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  The real time voice translation has been on there for awhile, but I never saw the camera phone translator before.

Keep in mind that if you're in some remote place with no data connection you'll have to communicate the old fashioned way.

I just tested it. That's what makes it so useful, you don't need data connection, it works just as well offline too.

Post: #9

(01-18-2015 04:09 PM)game_ethic Wrote:  

(01-18-2015 03:45 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  The real time voice translation has been on there for awhile, but I never saw the camera phone translator before.

Keep in mind that if you're in some remote place with no data connection you'll have to communicate the old fashioned way.

I just tested it. That's what makes it so useful, you don't need data connection, it works just as well offline too.

You sure about that? I just turned off data and wifi and it doesn't work. If it did work offline, you'd need a massive language library of sounds and words for each language. Keeping if offline allows you to grab only what you need on the fly.

Post: #10

^ yeah, using the camera to translate words work fine. The voice translation works but you need to download language packs for the voice translator to work offline.

Post: #11

hmm I use the online version of Google Translate and based on my experiences with Spanish speakers on Interpals, it is not that great of a translator. It will be interesting to see just how competent this new & improved app functions.

Post: #12

Agree with some of the others who said that Google Translate hasn't always been accurate. I could see this being a jokey thing to bring up AND TRY but hell no would I rely on Google translate for serious conversation with a girl. I'd rather take the time to just learn how to say "hello" "beautiful" "really??" "do you like____?" "do you know_____"

You can get surprisingly far knowing just those phrases and having a positive, yet sexual energy with flirtatious eye contact.

Post: #13

All of my childhood Star Trek fantasies are coming true.

Now all we need to do is get visited by:



(short hair, WNB )

Post: #14

These things are always faulty, but the cool thing is they are that much closer to being a realistic way to eliminate communication barriers between two people who could not otherwise talk. I can see a lot of progress being made in the future.

I agree with others that the effort to learn a language is still very worth it, but this type of technology is a fascinating to me and I think it will be put to some interesting uses some day. Even as it exists now, it can at least help you swoop some girls when the language barrier is there. Helps for some laughs - you just can't take it too seriously, and you have to watch her facial expressions to figure out when the meaning she's getting is definitely off so you can make that clear that it's not working.

I use Google translate all the time to communicate with girls and others. I'd say about 30% of the time it proves useless, but there's still a healthy majority of the time that it assists me in getting my point across.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #15

I gave it a try just now from English to Russian and back, I was quite impressed by how well it performed. Admittedly I didn't go full Scots language on it, but it still got every word I said. I would stick to simple and clear phrases through, I tried a couple of slang terms which didn't translate well.

Post: #16

I think this application/software would only be useful in situations of transactional nature. For example to ask "where is the train station?". There will never be a substitute for being well-versed in several foreign languages.

Though the language barrier can be our biggest cockblock at times, we shouldn't underestimate the sexual tension that can arise as a consequence of not being able to communicate verbally. Let that tension build up and see what happens.

Railing a girl after you disarmed her with your foreign language skills is one of the best experiences in the game in my opinion.

Post: #17

(01-19-2015 03:39 AM)CrashBangWallop Wrote:  All of my childhood Star Trek fantasies are coming true.

Now all we need to do is get visited by:

(short hair, WNB )

I found your picture inspirational, was considering watching startrek, then unfortunately i came across this:

Post: #18

It seems like the photographic translator can't decide what word it's looking at.

Post: #19

^^^

Damn. I've been fooled.

She's still pretty hot though, even with the short hair and pointy ears.

Post: #20

You know what is cool about this?

To see if your pronunciation is any good.

If the translator doesn't hear you right, it obviously translates the wrong thing. Obviously I wasn't trying to say "plague" but it was funny.

Little fucking victories keep you going.

Post: #21

You guys are such cynics.

Sure it's no replacement for true language knowledge but it's a perfect tool for opening and communicating with a girl who doesn't speak English. Just the novelty alone is great and is an excuse in itself enough to try.

I've banged and even dated women long term starting off with very little language between us. Through body language, simple phrases and jokes, "Kino", and booze. I can't see how this wouldn't have helped.

So, yes it's ideal to put in the time and learn but there's no reason this can't supplement the game of a guy who gets off the beaten track. Or at least fill the gaps as you learn, just like a phrase book might.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #22

I see its use but at the same time it will encourage lazy behaviour. One of the most fun things in life is to learn a foreign language. Imagine going to a club and your wingman walks around with his phone points it at people when they talk...brings it to his ear to listen. Then puts it to his mouth to respond and then puts the phone near the girl for her to hear. That is ridiculous.

Post: #23

I think this is great to have when in a jam. In the meantime, I can use it as I am learning a language to see if my pronunciation is understandable.

Post: #24

Lavidaloca, yes, that is indeed ridiculous.

But I don't think anyone with an ounce of sense or game is going to do that. I don't bring phrase books to clubs abroad either.

As I said it's no replacement for learning language. Just don't see the need for people being so negative or critical about it. It's a cool tool and toy and no need to overthink it. Though I guess it's natural for people to resist change.

Personally while I think I'll always value learning language I also find the effort to create this fascinating and am intrigued to see where the tech goes in the future and how far.

They may never be realized but the implications are profound.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #25

http://clapway.com/2016/05/26/iphone-ear...ate-apple/

New iPhone Earpiece to Destroy Google Translate; Apple Fans Happy Clapway

Being fluent in another language is a difficult endeavor. It often takes time and money most people simply don’t have. Google Translate has traditionally been the go-to app and translation browser. For most people traveling or living around the world, being lost in translation is annoying. Imagine having a small translator in your ear at all times, allowing you to navigate language with ease. Enter the Pilot. The Pilot is a smart earpiece language translator that fits comfortably in your ear. It is essentially like having your own personal translator. It truly opens up the world without language barriers. All using a simple device and iPhone app. Does this spell disaster for Google?

WEARABLE LANGUAGE TECH APPLE FANS CRAVE

Apple fans are all about their iPhone accessories. Especially when a new wearable that is compatible with an iPhone app hits the market. The Pilot boasts a wealth of language tech features. This may cause Apple fans to delete their Google Translate apps. And go for the Pilot iPhone app instead. The Pilot uses speech recognition technology to allow users to hear a different language in their native tongue. It essential translates in real time. It combines wearable tech with machine translation like never seen before. And Apple iPhone fans love the never seen before features.

EQUIPPED FOR THE IPHONE DIGITAL NOMAD IN YOU


The Pilot is designed for comfort, compatibility, and usability. It curves to the contours of the human ear. Yet boasts the tech of aliens, or as seen in sci-fi. The Pilot comes in three distinct, fashionable colors for any traveler or international businessperson. Color variety including red, black, and white. A secondary earpiece is also provided, allowing you to share or stream music as well. The Apple iPhone app can be used for any smartphone device. It allows users to set their language preferences and also acts as a phrase book if needed. There is also a loudspeaker feature available through the app as well. Apple fans love having language freedom.

GOOGLE LOST IN ITS OWN TRANSLATION?

Google Translate may be at risk of losing a big chunk of the global machine translation market. An industry that is estimated to be worth $1 billion by 2022. Google Translate offers over 100 languages, but some languages are lost in typing translation. The basic translations Google Translate offers, like Spanish, English, Italian, and French translate fairly well. But if you try to Google Translate Japanese to English, you may find some odd responses to your translation. The Pilot may offer a faster and more accurate way to translate. Since Google Translate takes quite some time of typing to get everything in order. But Pilot may not turn out to be as great as promised. Like most voice activated translations, there is still much to be lost.