TECHNOLOGY
‘ Star Trek ’ was right
Translation tools you can use today
BY BETH ZIESENIS
IN “ STAR TREK ,” intergalactic travelers used the Universal Translator gadget to communicate with Klingons and other beings that didn ’ t speak the Federation Standard Language ( which happened to be English — lucky for us ).
Today ’ s translation technology represents science fiction come to life . Check out these four translation apps to discover why it ’ s a good time to be a nerd in the tour industry .
Microsoft Translator
Translation tool with instant translation for multiple languages
Translator . microsoft . com and in app stores An American , a German and a Russian walk into a bar . The American says , “ Let ’ s all be friends . I ’ ll buy the next round !”
Perplexed , the German and the Russian smile and go back to their phones . They don ’ t speak English , so ... awkward .
But then the German yells out a happy “ Ich habe eine Idee !” and starts pointing to an app on his phone . He gestures for everyone to download Microsoft Translator , and within seconds , the three are all using the instant translation feature . The German repeats again , “ Ich habe eine Idee !” and the American and Russian cheer because his words , “ I have an idea ,” are now instantly translated on their phones .
Microsoft Translator has been around for a while , but recently they made game-changing
improvements that will help all of us immediately . Nerdy tech folks call this technology “ deep learning ” and “ neural networks ,” but they ’ re just making those terms up . It just means that technology is becoming smarter than we are .
The conversation feature lets someone set up a “ room ” for chatting . You just put your first name and choose the language you speak . The app offers instant speech-to-text translations for some languages , such as English , Russian , Spanish , Chinese , Arabic and others , and it translates text ( but not speech ) in dozens of additional languages .
To interact , you press the microphone and start talking . As many as 100 of your tour participants can see what you ’ re saying — instantly translated on their screens — and they can respond in their own languages , which will be translated on your device .
Google Translate
Translation tool with augmented-reality tools translate . google . com and in app stores Just like Microsoft ’ s option , Google
An example of Google Translate in action
Translate can handle audio and written translation jobs . But Google ’ s best party trick is its use of augmented reality on printed material . The mobile app lets you scan words and watch them magically transform to another language in real time on your screen . The feature will help you read menus at exotic restaurants .
Skype
Instant chat tool with simultaneous translations Skype . com and in app stores We all know Skype as the instant video chat tool that started a revolution in long-distance relationships , but its newest features help keep it relevant and helpful for tour professionals . The Windows app offers instant translation in eight languages and text translations for more than 50 more .
TextGrabber
Translator app with optical character recognition , which converts images of text into digitized characters .
Textgrabber . pro and in app stores Abbyy , the maker of FineScanner , uses its exceptional OCR tools in TextGrabber to digitize printed material and translate it instantly . What ’ s more , the work happens without an internet connection .
Beth Ziesenis is Your Nerdy Best Friend . She is the author of several books on technology including “ The Big Book of Apps : Your Nerdy BFF ’ s Guide to ( Almost ) Every App in the Universe .” Join Beth for her sessions at Travel Exchange ’ 17 .
14 October 2017