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Oct 2, 2013
Translation industry news

Glasses that can automatically translate foreign menus into the wearer’s own language have been unveiled in Japan.

Source: The Telegraph
Story flagged by: RominaZ

The next-generation spectacles were revealed at a gadget fair on the outskirts of Tokyo and could be available in time for the city’s hosting of the Olympics in 2020.

By using augmented reality the glasses can project text in the wearer’s native tongue over unfamiliar signs and menus, potentially proving invaluable for British tourists whose grasp of Japanese is limited.

The invention may be particularly useful for those who journey beyond the most popular destinations in Japan where foreign-language menus are rarely found. More.

See: The Telegraph

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Comments about this article


Glasses that can automatically translate foreign menus into the wearer's own language have been unveiled in Japan.
ATIL KAYHAN
ATIL KAYHAN  Identity Verified
Türkiye
Local time: 23:58
Member (2007)
Turkish to English
+ ...
Let me rephrase that. Oct 2, 2013

Computers that can automatically translate foreign languages into the owner’s own language have been released all over the world. The question is, do people really use them?
 
Ambrose Li
Ambrose Li  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 16:58
English
+ ...
Let’s assume the device actually works Oct 4, 2013

Even if the device is 100% accurate 100% of the time, I am sure it will not be useful 100% of the time. The thing is that in some places (e.g., some high end restaurants), what you read in the menus will be a poetic description of the food you will be getting; so even if the device translated such a description 100% correctly you will still have little idea of what the food will be like.

Or consider the other extreme, places where menu items are routinely misspelled (e.g., very cheap ... See more
Even if the device is 100% accurate 100% of the time, I am sure it will not be useful 100% of the time. The thing is that in some places (e.g., some high end restaurants), what you read in the menus will be a poetic description of the food you will be getting; so even if the device translated such a description 100% correctly you will still have little idea of what the food will be like.

Or consider the other extreme, places where menu items are routinely misspelled (e.g., very cheap neighbourhood restaurants). Even if the device could be a perfect translator, I’m not sure if it can also be a perfect proofreader. ▲ Collapse
 
Steve Kerry
Steve Kerry  Identity Verified
Local time: 21:58
German to English
I'd love to see... Oct 4, 2013

I'd love to see a few actual examples of how it translated a menu. Should be good for a laugh, if nothing else!

Steve K.
 
liz askew
liz askew  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:58
Member (2007)
French to English
+ ...
I'll believe it when I see it! Oct 9, 2013

Indeed, I'd love to see some examples of their 100% accurate translations!
I don't really believe this is possible with a device! In fact there could be some hilarious "translations".
 
Oksana Weiss
Oksana Weiss  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 22:58
Member (2011)
German to English
+ ...
... Oct 10, 2013

Can't wait to see "Translation server error" in the menu with my own eyes.
 

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