The internet is all about connecting people. Through logging onto the internet, people can connect through instant messenger, social media, or even Skype. However, a big problem of connection is language barrier. As a first generation child, I am guilty of losing touch of my fluency of the Vietnamese language. I often have my family members who live in Vietnam message me on Facebook in Vietnamese, which I often have trouble understanding, and Google translate often has trouble translating. However, a newer feature in Skype can help demolish this problem I, and many others have.
Now, the benefit of Skype is that it is available for almost anybody around the world to download and chat with, voice call, or video call for free. Within Skype, to turn on the translator, one simply calls the other user, brings up the dialer, and toggles a translate button. This can be done within Skype messenger, or literally in a call where the call will take place real time with just a few in between breaks for Skype to translate what the user has said. The user is able to choose if they wish to have a guy or a girl voice to be his or her translator. Currently, there are nine languages Skype enables for its calls, with hopes of expanding to many more. Though there are errors from time to time, this enables users to speak to anybody across the world that may not be as fluent in a language as the other.
This technology will bring people together. Though there is value in learning a new language, this technology can help people who are in the process of learning a language, or prefer not to learn it at all, to communicate with others. The deep learning system within Skype translator is learning the different slang of other languages, to make the conversation less like talking to a robot, and more like talking to a real person. People may use this technology for business, personal, or familial reasons. Whatever reason, Skype translate does an effective job of bringing people together through technology.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/2016/12/12/13918176/skype-real-time-translation-mobile-landlines
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/534101/something-lost-in-skype-translation/
Skype adding a translator too is a very smart and useful addition to the program. So many people use Skype to communication with those who are far away and in different countries so providing a translation feature will make communicating that much simpler. This translator takes what the person is saying and adds text in order to translate which is comparable to talking in person with someone through an actual human translator. For those who talk to family from other countries it’ll be easier for them and bond with those family members. Its difficult to communicate with people who are in different countries and language barriers also can be an obstacle but adding a way to minimize that barrier is crucial. The Skype translator has over 40 different languages they can translate which is amazing considering how difficult it is for people to understand different languages. When using the translator on a video call its like the person speaking the different languages has their own subtitles popping up on the screen making it easier for the other person to understand. This will be especially useful for the people who use Skype for business purposes and need to constantly conference call partners and associates in different countries where there is a large language barrier. Skype Translator is a very smart add on for Skype and definitely revolutionizes the way people communication through video chat.
Skype is a great tool for people to be able to come together and communicate when they are unable to communicate in person. Skype is great, because it is more personal than only just talking on the phone, because you are able to see the other person. When you can see peoples’ facial expressions, it can make the conversation go a lot better, because the majority of communication is actually nonverbal, rather than verbal, according to a lot of scientific studies.
This new addition to Skype reminds me a little bit of the Pixel Buds from last October. Their original and main purpose was to provide quality sound and hands free use. They are simple and can be operated by only touching one of the earphones. The similarity to this Skype addition is that these earphones work with Google Translate to provide words and phrases in over 100 different languages. The person who invented these buds showed them off by having an entire conversation with a fluent Swedish person. When the inventor spoke in English, what he said was translated in real time to Swedish. When the person responded in Swedish, the inventor was able to hear the English translation of what was just said in Swedish.
I think that kind of stuff is so interesting. I could have used some sort of translator when I went to Honduras to volunteer last summer, because everybody there spoke in complete fluent Spanish. It was difficult to deal with the language barrier. I can only imagine how much the technology on real time translators are going to change the lives of millions of people around the world very soon.
https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/google-pixel-buds-headphones-offer-real-time-language-translation/4059674.html
This new addition to Skype I think is a great advancement that millions of people will take advantage of. This new feature will open up doors for so many different types of people, especially big companies. My father is constantly having conferences with people who speak different languages for his company. He always says that his biggest regret is not becoming fluent in more languages. My father can speak both English and Italian, but many times he is speaking to people who speak languages he has no experience in. This language barrier calls for many people to have to bring in a translator. While this is not a big deal, if someone is constantly communicating back and forth, a translator may not always be available. Skype’s new feature takes away the need for a third party to get involved in the conversation, and in general opens up so many doors. Not only is this huge for companies, it’s also just as huge for everyday people. It helps make communication easier, but it also educates users in a way that taking a class in school won’t. This translator will help people learn more conversational talk in another language, as opposed to just the grammar and more proper aspect of it. I think this is an amazing step for Skype and will encourage users to support this company and its efforts.
The Skype translator has been used for a few years now and has been truly beneficial to many throughout the world. I believe the translator has actually helped others not only just understand what one was saying during the conversation, but also learning the language. When I was taking class for Italian we had to Pen Pal other Italian students and write them letters in Italian. The Skype translator has gave people this same opportunity, but has improved on the concept of Pen Pal. One can work on their pronunciation by actually speaking the language.
The recent news that the Skype translator will be available to mobile and land lines will be especially helpful when trying to bring others together. This is also, a smart business decision on Skype. Not everyone in the conversation has to have Skype, but may want to get it after experiencing it’s translating capability.
Source:https://www.cnn.com/2014/05/28/tech/web/skype-translator/index.html