Universal language system may solve translation problems

Tech > Computer

Universal language system may solve translation problems

Published: 6 Jan 2013 at 21.24
Online news: Computer

SINGAPORE : Scientists are on the verge of shipping a universal speech translator with a system that speaks Thai and more than 20 other languages.

The heart of the U-Star system at the moment is usually a hand-held video camera like this, outfitted with a microphone (bottom) and the translation software.

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) announced Sunday the system is in its final stage of development, and will be ready to ship well ahead of the planned Asean Economic Community in 2016.

U-Star, the name of the technology, currently translates 10 languages, either one-on-one or a conversation involving several different languages. They include Thai, English, Japanese, Mandarin, Malay, Korean, Bahasa Indonesia, Hindi and Vietnamese.

This Nectec cartoon illustrates the concept of U-Star. An English speaker and Thai speaker communicate perfectly by talking through the translation system.

When the system ships, anyone will be able to speak his or her native language into a hand-held device and communicate directly with any other native language user, including several at one time.

The new speech-to-speech translation project is a collaboration of eight agencies in Asian countries, including Nectec in Thailand.

Nectec said on its website that the current Thai module for U-Star "speaks" and translates eight languages - Thai, English, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian (and Bahasa Malaysia), Vietnamese, Chinese Mandarin, and Hindi.

Uses for U-Star just within Thailand are almost limitless. But the first advantage will be for managers, government officials and business people worried about how to communicate with the vastly increased foreign community that likely will follow the AEC.

The system being finalised by Nectec recognises 14,000 Thai words and 21,000 English words. "Users are allowed to speak any sentence based on recognisable words," said the Nectec internet media release.

The U-Star system is internet-based, meaning the software in the handheld device will communicate with language servers maintained at Nectec and in other countries.

This also means that while people can communicate face-to-face using the U-Star translators, they also can speak from city to city, or country to country.

"Less than five seconds per transaction on a normal internet (connection)" will be normal for any word or sentence needing translation, said Nectec.

At the moment, "Overall translation accuracy varies between 60 to 90 per cent, depending on the speaking environment and style." Increased accuracy and vocabulary will come quickly, the scientists believe.

None of the agencies involved in building the U-Star programme have announced exact availability or a likely price for the system.

In this test of the system, Paul only speaks Thai (noted by "th"), but is communicating with speakers of (top to bottom) Hindi, Vietnamese and Japanese.

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jgriff
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Discussion 23 : 08 Jan 2013 at 00.2623
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There is an app that the USA Armed Forces use when attending Cobra Gold in Thailand. They have had it for a few years and it has about that same accuracy as this one. Just put in on your smart phone. Doesn't need an internet connection to work. Once you download it your done. It has about 10 languages. Jibbigo.
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sirron
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Discussion 22 : 07 Jan 2013 at 14.4222
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D5 Genethemac,

A cell App "SayHi" seems over 90% correct on English to Thai - voice to voice. It has no Thai to English voice yet (probably due to the tones). But if you can type Thai or are with someone who can, it"s has a high % of accuracy. For example on a recent road trip we stopped to buy some fruit and an American friend wanted to know the name of the fruit we were eating. I knew the Thai (poosa), but had no clue to its English name. It took a lot longer for the Thais in the car to figure out how to spell "poosa" (พุทรา), than it did for the app to speak back with "monkey apple" in English. It has other languages too.
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oldexp
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Discussion 21 : 07 Jan 2013 at 13.2521
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I prefer to know that I don't understand than knowing I might (20 to 40%) missunderstand.
Google and Bing translation not even allow to understand what a Thai to English translation is about.
And then a program that is based on servers that have to be reached through 2G technology?
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Eric
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Discussion 20 : 07 Jan 2013 at 11.2320
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Give technology a chance. We may not get perfection but like all technology, it will improve over time. Even if we don't get perfect translation, we still can catch the key words for us to understand. That's is sufficient to understand what the conversation is all about and that's better than staring blank.
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tomb
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Discussion 19 : 07 Jan 2013 at 11.1919
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When is the government going to place an order for three million of these these devices at an inflated price?
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NangrongJ
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Discussion 18 : 07 Jan 2013 at 09.4818
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These gadgets are ok for some languages but at best only ok. Thai isn't a language that can be translated accurately in such a manner as google and bing show. This will be used as a crutch by Thais to get out of studying.
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mrsdonesh
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Discussion 17 : 07 Jan 2013 at 08.2417
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what we need is a Babel fish. This will fix all. It might help my associate whose job will be lost because new Japanese management want Japanese speaking line managers only. Forget skills, speak Japanese, OK jobs yours. Don't speak Japanese bye bye. 10 years service don't care bye bye. BP needs to look at this as a real problem.
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jacksprat
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Discussion 16 : 07 Jan 2013 at 08.1316
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Why not have everyone in the world learn North American Plains Indian sign language? Cheaper and probably just as effective.
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GenetheMachine
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Discussion 15 : 07 Jan 2013 at 07.3315
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I'll bet cash it works better than Google or Facebook translations. It took some years before voice response units could be used for telephones. Now you can dial you cell phone with your voice. Someday this technology will be a cell phone app. This is just another step forward towards a StarTrek translator.
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Birdie
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Discussion 14 : 07 Jan 2013 at 07.3314
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This software or gadget would make the Thais look even more stupid and brainless but good for the corruptive government because its another source of income.
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