NEC develops real-time Japanese-to-English mobile translation software

We've already seen the idea of data-to-voice translation passed around, but NEC's latest software is far beyond the drawing board. Reportedly, the firm has developed a system that can understand around 50,000 Japanese words and translate them to English text on the mobile's display in just a second or two. The software was made compact enough to "operate on a small microchip mounted in a cellphone," and was designed especially to help users convert common travel phrases. Notably, it would be technically possible to make the English translation vocal, but according to NEC spokesman Mitsumasa Fukumoto, the firm isn't looking into that possibility at the moment. No word on when we'd see this technology hit the masses, nor if any other language combinations were in the works, but this would certainly make touring English-speaking locales a lot less strenuous for Japanese speakers.

[Via Physorg]

[Mark Larson Posted Nov 30th 2007 12:23PM]

Maybe they should just learn English?

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 30th 2007 2:45PM]

So, if you were to vacation to Tokyo, should you be expected to learn Japanese?

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 30th 2007 5:23PM]

this is a great example of why only Samsung spokesmodels should be shown

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 3rd 2007 2:39PM]

Can it do that in reverse, translating English into Japanese? I'd buy it.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 27th 2007 2:06PM]

i bought nintendo wii from asia website for christmas presant,unfortunatly was in japanese,can only play japanese games for anyone asian to understand.i can return it but if anyone would buy it for original price,i also payed inport tax,i would sell rather than return.may put it on ebay.