Google Bridges Language Barrier Across the World with Language Translator for Mobile Phones
February 9, 2010
The passion for innovation and the unceasing commitment to foster the world of communication is evident in every leap made by Google. Successively, Google keeps giving us something to rope in. The latest one, on what we got lured was Google Nexus One. Before the dust stirred by Nexus One settles, here comes another- the Language Translator for mobile phones!
Google is developing a software for mobile phones that can translate the speech in any languages in real-time. With the development of this technology, two people of different languages can converse over the mobile phone in their own languages, without the need to speak in the same language. The Google’s language translator will take care of the rest. The process is in the beginning stage and Google expects the basic version of it to get released in a couple of years.
Google’s Language Translator will transform the communication world altogether. If the software works well, then Google translator will transform around 6000 languages currently existing in the world. This can bridge the language barrier across the world.
However, this is not an altogether new technology. Google has already tried this is in computers. The language translator in the computer is now capable to translate around 52 languages, and it scans the whole documents and multi-lingual websites for the purpose. Google has also launched a voice recognition search, which enables the mobile phone users to conduct search by speaking commands, rather than by typing the keywords.
Now, Google blends these two technologies together. The new developing software is intended to listen to the speaker’s voice, interprets the meanings and phrases, and then translates them. In simple words, it analyses the package of the speech and translates them.
The Challenge:
The real challenge lies here is that, the voice, the accent and the pitch differ according to people. Everyone has there own style of speaking. Can a machine recognize and interpret the exact meaning as he said?
“At the moment, no system in the world can handle the accent change accurately.”, says David Crystal, a Professor of Linguistic at Bangor University. Many experts believe that the live translation of the voice has to overcome plenty of hurdles before it becomes a reality. “May be the Google can do it faster, but its is hard to believe that the mobile phones can understand a full language slang at a go.”
What Google has to say?
Franz Och, Head of Translation Services in Google, believes that the speech-to-speech translation is possible. “You need a blend of highly accurate machine and voice recognition technology, for this to be possible. That’s what we are working on.”, he says.
Enumerating the methods of possibility, he agrees that the changes in accent is a challenge. But, according to him, the mobile phone is personal by nature. Hence, the mobile phone must get the feel of the user’s voice, from its past usage. The more you use, the more it becomes familiar; hence, more accurate as well. Unlike the usual language translators, Google is not stressing on the tough grammar rules of the languages, instead it make use of the translated documents of the websites to enhance this system. “The more we input, the better the quality”, Mr. Och says.
Conclusion:
Whatsoever, the future seems interesting. Will this system eradicate the need of a common language? Now, English enjoys the designation of being the common language among the masses. But, with the launch of a language translator in mobile phones, a need will not arise for the people to speak in one common language. Will this system deteriorate the importance of English? Speak out your opinion through comments.
Apple iPad Tablet: Is it a ‘BIG’ iPhone?
January 28, 2010
The launch of Apple iPad Tablet PC by Apple’s CEO, Steve Jobs in an exclusive event at San Francisco on Wednesday not only coddled the unerring senses of the drooling Apple adherents, who queue up to buy the Apple products as soon as they hit the shores, but also the tech-freaks and the avid readers.
Why I mentioned the ‘readers’ here is because Apple iPad has been launched to set ablaze the ebook market, with a new content delivery system called iBooks. Featuring the virtual books from five prominent publishers such as Hapercollins, Penguin, MacMillan, Hachette and Simon & Shuster, Apple iPad brings forth both the popular books as well as the text books. Similar to Amazon’s Kindle App, users can preview the first few pages of the book before they purchase. You can read the book in both portrait mode as well as landscape mode. You can customize the readability, and once purchased the books are directly downloaded into the book shelf.
Although the in-built ‘iBooks’ is one major feature of Apple iPad, I am not here to talk about it or its effect on ebook market. It is about the similarities between the Apple iPod, iPhone and Apple iPad. Ouch! Even the names sound alike. Its Design? Apple iPad looks like a larger iPod Touch, with a 9.7 inches LCD display. The classic 4:3 aspect ratio has revived in it with a HD resolution of 1024 X 768 pixels.
The operating system employed in Apple iPad is iPhone OS, designed to run on large screen. It boasts of features such as an on-screen QWERTY keyboard, an accelerometer, a volume adjuster, a mute button, a home button, a dock connector, access to iPod, iTunes and App stores; all akin to iPhone. While most of the apps are comparable to iPhone’s, some apps have come up with fresh user interface. And the happiest part is that Apple iPad offers a full compatibility with all the apps in the App store (that is, 140,000 apps). Apple iPad can play back ten hours of video, which is again same as the latest iPhone. Besides, similar to the Adobe Flash of iPhone, the flash of Apple iPad tablet PC too will not support the web plug-in.
Substantially, I feel Apple iPad as a nearest sibling to iPhone, an iPhone with no Phone functionality. Yes. I must tell you. The GREATEST DISAPPOINTMENT with Apple iPad is that it can’t act as a phone. Although, there is quad band GSM support and 3G, unfortunately, there is no phone functionality.
Technical Specifications and Pricing of Apple iPad:
Over to its technical specifications, Apple iPad tablet PC has a 1GHz Apple A4 high performance chip. It comes in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB flash drive capacities. There are two models available, one with in-built Wi-Fi, and the other with integrated Wi-Fi plus 3G. The former weighs 1.5 pounds, whereas the latter weighs 1.6 pounds.
The AT & T offers you the 3G service, either by a $14.99 (250MB limit) or by a $29.99 (unlimited) pre-paid plans. The ‘no-3G’ versions are available for $499 (16GB), $599 (32GB) and $699 (64GB) respectively. You can get these in your hands within 60 days. But you will have to wait till the end of March for the 3G integrated models. They are said to be priced at $629, $729 and $829, according to their capacities. The UK prices are not yet fixed, but most probably, the Euro conversion of the US costs can be expected. Moreover, some wonderful accessories too will accompany this Apple iPad, an all-in-one communication device.
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Baby Translator iPhone App for Easy Parenting
January 27, 2010
“Darling, why are you crying?, just listen to me……………baby…..please sweety……”, Amelia is trying to calm her crying child. Amelia is not the only mother who stays absolutely zero when the child cries, without knowing the reason behind the cry, and finds it hard to calm the tearful tyke. This is a mundane scene in most of the houses with new born babies. If you are one of these thousand mothers, then you must need a Baby Translator iPhone App. It claims to translate your baby’s cry with 96 percent of accuracy.
Dubbed as Cry Translator, this baby translator iPhone app is an easy to use iPhone application that can quickly identify the five distinct cries of the infants. These five cries include the cry for food, cry for sleep, cry due to discomfort, stressed or bored. The key benefit of this baby translator iPhone app is its fast identification of the cry. It can get back the interpretation within three to five seconds.
All you need to do is to hold the microphone of iPhone next to the crying tyke. Then the software will analyse the cry and present you with an interpretation of what the baby is trying to communicate. Besides translation, Cry baby translator iPhone app can offer you some suggestions on how to calm the baby. Interesting. Isn’t it? Of more, you can access emergency contacts such as paediatricians. This mobile phone application can be used in iPods as well. But it requires an external microphone.
The seller of this Cry baby translator iPhone app is Biloop Technology, an electronic engineering company dedicated on launching sophisticated innovations in the area of sound identification. This cry translator is said to be a result of their six years of research. The technology was tested to be positive in Spain and North America. However, the company says the ‘Cry baby translator iPhone app’ as an assistance to the parent’s ability to understand the baby’s needs and not as a medical device. If there arise a concern on the baby’s health, you must contact a doctor soon.
Cry baby translator iPhone app can ease the mother’s anxiety and can provide them a confidence in understanding their baby’s requirements. It can increase the child’s well-being and avoid stressful situations. Besides, a person new to the baby can also take care of it. In short, this is an easy parenting application.
Nevertheless, some experts worry that this could prevent the mothers from using their own senses to address the child’s needs. The ‘learning’ to understand the cry is said to be a part of the bonding process, which forms the foundation for a good communication between the mother and the child.
Whatsoever, the exhausted parents could get one, if you are ready to spend a £17.99 from app store.
Google Nexus One vs Motorola Droid
January 24, 2010
At present, the loudest ‘echo’ in the mobile phone market is ‘android mobile phones‘. Among them, the name of two mobile handsets yell out prominently, of that of Google HTC Nexus One and Motorola Droid. Droid was enjoying the emblem of being the coolest android smartphone in the arena, till the outburst of Google Nexus One. Even though the fad follows Nexus One currently, Droid has not completely lost its sheen. Motorola Droid has already created ripples in UK market, in the name of Motorola Milestone, and Google Nexus One is yet to create. At this juncture, here is the comparison between Motorola Droid (Motorola Milestone for UK) and Google Nexus One.
Neither of these mobile phones can be said to be so appealing by their looks. When Nexus One encompasses its 3.7 inches AMOLED screen within a curved rectangular chassis, Droid does it in within a normal rectangular case. But Nexus One scores well in its display quality. Even though both comes with almost similar WVGA resolution (Droid packs 54 pixels more than Nexus One), it is the AMOLED screen that makes Nexus One a winner. The vibrancy it offers is remarkable. Droid comes with a slide out keyboard, where as Nexus One is satisfied with an on-screen one.
Motorola Droid runs on Google Android 2.0, whereas Nexus One comes with Android 2.1 version. The spotted difference in both comes in the visual experience. Android 2.1 provides a better view with enhanced 3D animations and Live wall papers. The voice-enabled search is another impressive feature in Android 2.1. Processor is another element that makes Nexus One a stronger player. The processor of Motorola Droid runs at a speed of 600MHz , where as Nexus One’s Snapdragon is a real dragon at 1GHz speed. With no lag in any of the performances, Nexus One grants an awesome performance. But this doesn’t mean Droid is slow by any means, may be by fractions.
There is no much difference in the multimedia aspect of Motorola Droid and Google Nexus One. Comparatively, the pictures they capture or the videos they play offer an equal performance. May be you can say that the AMOLED screen of Nexus One delivers a better view. Regarding the battery life, Droid offers a better 3G stand by time of 270 hours, but Nexus One will offer you only 250 hours. The talk time? Droid will offer a 6.4 hours, where as Nexus One can offer you for a 7 hours on 3G network.
Overall, Both Nexus One and Droid represent the best android phones in the market. But it is only the hardware, like Snapdragon processor and AMOLED screen that makes Nexus One a little superior to Droid.
Build Your Muscles and Charge Your Mobile Phone with YoGen Charger
January 22, 2010
Before, if someone wakes me up in the middle of the night, and ask why I am building up my muscles, undoubtedly I would’ve said it is to impress my girl friend. But not any more. Now I am building up muscles to charge my mobile phone….????….No No…I’m not crazy! Let me clarify.
Easy Energy, the manufacturer of YoGen products has come up with a new mobile phone charger that can charge mobile phones using the hand power. Dubbed as, YoGen Hand Power Mobile Phone Charger, this gizmo is a slim, pocket-sized device that generates the charging power, when you repeatedly pull the cord attached with it. This action is similar to our popular ‘Yo-Yo’ Toy.
Scientifically, YoGen Mobile Phone Charger comes with a ‘T’ shaped handle or T-handle on its top. When this T-handle has been pulled repeatedly by the user, the in-built alternator of the charger spins continuously, generating enough power to recharge the batteries of our mobile phones. The electric output is via an integrated mini-USB of the device. There is a spiral master cable and an interchangeable connector, supplied with it.
YoGen charger has a LED indicator on it, to notify you on the actual charging. Besides, the ’slider switch’ on it alternates between the forced and the regular charging mode. The company claims YoGen charger to be durable, rugged and tough to withstand the constant use. The size of this charger is too less, around 55mm wide, 90mm long and 23mm thick. It can seamlessly fit into your jeans pocket.
Moreover, YoGen mobile phone charger can be used to charge other small electronic devices such as MP3 player, iPod, game system, organizer, GPS or pocket camcorder. Interesting. Isn’t it? Those who regularly misplace or forget their chargers can definitely consider zeroing one. Or, the mobile phone manufacturers who declared to manufacture eco-friendly mobile phones can definitely supply one YoGen Hand Power Mobile Phone charger with their handsets. You can grab one from its official website.
