Google can already translate over 50 languages. What about Sign Language??? Sooner than you think!
Here's a list of the languages they currently can translate:
Google has a prototype app where you can take a picture with your Android phone. It will digitize the picture into text. Then the text will be translated into any language of your choice. Cool huh?
"Right now this technology only works for German-to-English translations and it's not yet ready for prime time. However, it shows a lot of promise for what the future might hold. Soon your phone will be able to translate signs, posters and other foreign text instantly into your language. Eventually, we're hoping to build a version of Google Goggles that can translate between all of the 52 languages currently supported by Google Translate — bringing even more information to you on the go."
Here's a list of the languages they currently can translate:
Afrikaans | Danish | Greek | Japanese | Polish | Swedish |
Albanian | Dutch | Haitian Creole | Korean | Portuguese | Thai |
Arabic | English | Hebrew | Latvian | Romanian | Turkish |
Belarusian | Estonian | Hindi | Lithuanian | Russian | Ukrainian |
Bulgarian | Filipino | Hungarian | Macedonian | Serbian | Vietnamese |
Catalan | Finnish | Icelandic | Malay | Slovak | Welsh |
Chinese | French | Indonesian | Maltese | Slovenian | Yiddish |
Croatian | Galician | Irish | Norwegian | Spanish | |
Czech | German | Italian | Persian | Swahili |
Google has a prototype app where you can take a picture with your Android phone. It will digitize the picture into text. Then the text will be translated into any language of your choice. Cool huh?
"Right now this technology only works for German-to-English translations and it's not yet ready for prime time. However, it shows a lot of promise for what the future might hold. Soon your phone will be able to translate signs, posters and other foreign text instantly into your language. Eventually, we're hoping to build a version of Google Goggles that can translate between all of the 52 languages currently supported by Google Translate — bringing even more information to you on the go."
One day, we willl be able to carry a device that will allow us to communicate with anyone in the world.
Are you refer to the posted or authorized signs or sign language itself?
ReplyDeleteThat would be not likely for the Google to translate any sign language into comprhensible sign language in next 8 years.
RLM
Not on really ! you need a steady and consistent signer all the time and, a common sign form would be a help too. An Avatar would be the best choice. In the UK 9 known variations of 'BSL' are in extance, without commonality of a signed form, 8 years is unrealistic too. You need to dispense with variety of signing. Using signed ENGLISH offers the best possible way in, ASL/BSL has such huge variations depending on ability and area, ASL appears better than BSL because you all in America tend to sign much the same, this isn't true in the UK. It would pose many issues of translation. I suggest they would ARGUE the first 8 years which is best sign to adopt, and them spend another 30 trying to get the deaf to oblige, thank goodness for captions !
ReplyDeleteMM, your wrote, "8 years is unrealistic"...
ReplyDeleteBe careful...technology is increasing at an exponential rate...just compare what we have today to 2002...and then 1994...then 1986...huge differences....
Of course the signing deaf could simply add captions.....:) One the prime issues the dedicated signer campaigns about is the exclusive right to sign and nothing else, to that end many of their cultural activists have resisted captioning their own vblogs. Looks like Google will take that right from them, because those who still don't want to follow the sign will access it via captions anyway. Game set and match to the text access format ? I'm still doubtful, it isn't the technology it's the chaos of sign use, some signers are very poor ones, others are first class, and the different sign forms are going to make things difficult, sign needs a norm, perhaps a 'media' one is a compromise.
ReplyDeleteAll of your comments are excellent feedback.
ReplyDeleteIt is true technology is increasing at an exponential rate. With passion and dedication, we end up making the impossible becoming possible. That's the beauty of life.
Furthermore, it is true everyone signs differently. It'll be a challenge to be able to decipher everyone with ease. However, the same problem also applies to the Hearing people and their voices. No one speaks the same. For instance, I know some people who hates speaking to the automated phone system because it simply cannot understand their voice.
Lastly, it'll be interesting to see how Deaf people will react to it. Will it be a hot issue like cochlear implant or will everyone embrace it immediately?
I would use a sign translation service because (A) I do not understand ASL at all, (B)I am Interested in what they have to say, and frustrated they want to object to my access, and (C) Americans can also access other signed deaf THEY can't follow. I believe sign is the barrier frankly, and text the leveller. Mostly ASL people, And I appreciate where they come from, will find only a few who understand ASL-only blogs, know what they are saying..... Access is essential to break down ALL deaf barriers, it is a pity, but realistic, sign isn't the access medium.
ReplyDelete