Google Translate, Again

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The battle between men and machines is still on. The Guardian started the new year with stunning news about Google. Mountain View recently acquired Otavio Good’s invention: software capable to recognize and translate writings and signs in different language. This Brazilian programmer initially developed the software that could translate from English to Spanish and back. As many other little enterprises with bright ideas, it was soon noticed by Google who founded the company Quest Visual to take it to the best of its capabilities, expanding the number of languages available, improving its precision, and making it available on the most fashionable devices, like iPhones. And of course, Google announced its integration with the app for Android. A great and useful enhancement in what is called “Augmented Reality”: you have just to point your device over a writing, and the software will automatically translate it in the screen of your smartphone.

The tones are excited and triumphalist. “Today’s updates take us one step closer to turning your phone into a universal translator and to a world where language is no longer a barrier to discovering information or connecting with each other,” stated Barak Turovsky, chief of Google Translate. Whether his optimism is justified remains to be seen.

By Matteo Poles

Social Media Specialist

Communication Trainee at TermCoord