We all rely on Google Translate to some degree, whether it’s working out an email from a foreign friend or establishing how to order the steak, medium rare, in Milan. But is it any use?
We all rely on Google Translate to some degree, whether it’s working out an email from a foreign friend or establishing how to order the steak, medium rare, in Milan. But is it any use?
There’s one clear way to test it out: compare it to a real-life human, an organically-grown translator. This is gaining relevance because of the clear advances in cyber translation.
Last Christmas, amid the festivities, certain Skype users found out they could test the communication tool’s new Translator function, which will allow English speakers to communicate with Spanish speakers and vice versa.
The Microsoft-owned company announced its intention of creating a Star Trek-like universal translator last May, with its eventual goal being to allow dozens of different language speakers to talk with one another without the need to learn the other person’s language.
Earlier this year, Google released a significant upgrade of its Google Translate application. No longer content to offer translations of written text, the upgraded app includes a visual translator and an audio translation function.
Bots bots bots, it’s all about the bots. And the more we play ball and test the software, the more accurate it will ultimately get.
But where are we at the moment. Should we trust Google, Skype or trained professionals? Well, this infographic from Verbalink.com should explain the pros and cons behind relying on your computer.
Translation image, via Shutterstock
