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October 9, 2004
Keitai device translates Japanese and English
NewScientist.com news service reports that NEC has developed a handheld device, about the size of a handheld PDA, that enables a user to chat in another language - without having to learn any words or phrases for themselves. The system will initially be aimed at Japanese tourists and business travellers and be available only in Japan. But Akitoshi Okumura, the NEC researcher behind the system, says there is no reason why it cannot be adapted for other languages. Okumura told New Scientist that NEC has started working on a version that translates between Japanese and Chinese.
Source: New Scientist, October 7, 2004. http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996503
See also
Bowlingual: The feeling of a dog is translated, Takara Toys, http://www.takaratoys.co.jp/bowlingual/. Time Magazine voted the "Dog Translator" one of 2002's "Best Inventions", http://www.time.com/time/2002/inventions/tra_bow.html
Meowlingual, a similar device for cats, was introduced in November 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3074163.stm
Posted by sjc at October 9, 2004 3:06 PM
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