Tech Made Simple

Hot Topics: Enter Our Apple HomePod Mini Giveaway | How to Fix Bluetooth Pairing Problems | How to Block Spam Calls | Snapchat Symbol Meaning

We may earn commissions when you buy from links on our site. Why you can trust us.

author photo

Google Making Progress on Language-translating Android Phone

by Fox Van Allen on July 26, 2013

Google Translate I love to travel. Most of my trips have been domestic, but I’ve always had this fantasy about visiting Japan. It’s a beautiful country with a rich culture, beautiful scenery, and ridiculous amounts of technology. The only problem: I have no idea how to speak Japanese.

Thankfully, by the time I have enough money to take the trip, that won’t be a problem. Google, the same company that’s working on a self-driving car and a head-mounted computer, is working on a device that would instantly translate words spoken in one language to another.

According to a report by U.K.’s The Times, the prototype (little more than an Android-powered smartphone) represents a marked improvement over current voice-recognition technology. Performance struggles in noisy backgrounds, but Google Android VP Hugo Barra says the device has “near-perfect,” “close to 100 percent” accuracy with certain language combinations in quieter environments.

To date, voice-recognition technology is more useful in theory than in practice – the error rate with Siri, for example, is still too high to cause frustration. In Google’s vision, your phone will learn your unique speech patterns and accent as you use it, increasing its accuracy with time.

Google says the technology is still a few years away from being perfect. In the meantime, the company will continue to offer Google Translate. The text-based language translator was named one of Techlicious’s 9 Free Android apps everyone should download just last year.


Topics

, News, Phones and Mobile, Mobile Apps, Travel & Entertainment, Blog, Social Networking


Discussion loading

Home | About | Meet the Team | Contact Us
Media Kit | Newsletter Sponsorships | Licensing & Permissions
Accessibility Statement
Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookie Policy

Techlicious participates in affiliate programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, which provide a small commission from some, but not all, of the "click-thru to buy" links contained in our articles. These click-thru links are determined after the article has been written, based on price and product availability — the commissions do not impact our choice of recommended product, nor the price you pay. When you use these links, you help support our ongoing editorial mission to provide you with the best product recommendations.

© Techlicious LLC.