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>> Have you ever found yourself in a conversation
where someone doesn't speak your language?
You find yourself speaking slower -- as if that will help them understand.
Or you start using those coded baseball hand signals
that are somehow supposed to get your message across.
It's precisely these situations that have continued
to fuel the race towards creating a universal speech translation device.
Currently available speech translation technology falls short
in a number of important areas.
But with devices like SIGMO popping up, and companies like Google
and Microsoft entering the market, we might soon witness technology once reserved
for the science fiction genre, enter into reality.
Still, we're left questioning how exactly a breakthrough
in translation technology might affect communication in all corners of the world.
Doctors without Borders search, and David Lauder [phonetic], currently based in the Pacific
and the Central African Republic, writes that he's not even sure that the diversity
of world languages is a problem that needs solving.
Maybe the diversity of world languages is like biodiversity.
A natural thing that is best preserved.
So in order to better understand speech translation technology and its effect
on communication today, we'll begin by first understanding why previous attempts
at perfecting this device have failed.
Second, we will explore the mergence
of new technologies before finally considering some implications.
So first, what exactly is speech translation?
Speech translation is the process
by which conversational spoken phrases are instantly translated
and spoken aloud in the second language.
Though the concept has been around for decades,
the technology we've seen has never quite measured up to the grandeur of what shows
like "Star Trek" and "Dr. Who" theorizes being possible.
One of the main reasons, [Inaudible] an executive researcher for the National Institute
of Information and Communications explains, "It's because existing translation tools
in mobile apps continue to lack in one vital area.
The distinction between phrase translation and speech translation."
Phrase translation is when a system translates a fixed and finite set of phrases
that have been manually entered into a system.
Whereas speech translation necessitates the ability
to recognize the many nuances within a spoken language.
Dr. Maura [phonetic] adds that "This is much more difficult
because spoken language contains ungrammatical, colloquial expressions,
and doesn't include punctuation."
According to Spiegel Online International, in September of 2013,
"Syntax and ambiguity remain a significant problem for automated translation programs.
The translations they produce may be comprehensible, though just barely.
It is precisely this ability to distinguish a contextual meaning
from individually defined words, which emerging technologies aim to achieve in their products.
A company know as Speech Hear -- the instant translation company --
is generally credited with developing the first noteworthy speech translation system in 2005.
The problem?
Was that their technology was limited to a computer-based interaction.
Which meant it failed at being accessible, convenient, and compact for people to use.
While this technology and ones like it are currently available to consumers,
they have yet to gain mainstream popularity or integration into daily life.
So now that we've considered a little bit
about the challenges facing universal speech translation,
we can consider how a new device call SIGMO plans
to absolve every communication problem we've ever had.
Okay. SIGMO is a voice translating device that crushed its $15,000 [inaudible] goal
by securing more than $250,000 worth of funding prior to its release.
According to "GizMag", in November of 2013, SIGMO is a compact,
square device that uses online translation tools to translate from one language
to another and back again in real time.
It's designed to be the mailman in the equation.
Pairs with your phone via Bluetooth connection.
No it won't require you to interact with your Smartphone to use it.
Simply press a button on SIGMO itself, speak, and listen to the translation it speaks
out for you, and the person you're trying to communicate with.
The compactness and convenience of this device is unparalleled.
And the first preorder shipment should set sail at the end of 2013.
So SIGMO might not be as sophisticated as the universal translator in "Star Trek",
but with 26 languages that span the globe and only more to come,
it's the closest thing out there.
Though it may not be for long, as reports of both Google and Microsoft enter
in the speech to translation market emerge.
According to the previously mentioned Spiegel Online International article titled,
"Google's Quest to End the Language Barrier".
Under the leadership of computer scientists from Germany, Franz Joseph Oc [phonetic],
the company is making significant progress towards an automated translation tool.
Apparently Oc has long been focused on a single goal.
To build the perfect translation machine.
A machine that is so inconspicuous and fast that you hardly notice it at all.
Except as a whisper in your ear.
When you can expect to see the device remains unclear.
But Oc, the first of the company's progress is that of a quantum leap
in perfecting real-time speech translation.
As for Microsoft, according to Extreme Tech, a web resource for technology reviewers,
November of 2013, Microsoft research has just unveiled software
that translates your spoken word into that of another language, while preserving the accent,
timber, and intonation of your actual voice.
This product too remains in the demo phase.
But the release of a YouTube video showing the device in action,
prompted quite a bit of attention from the public.
So now that we've seen a few challenges contrasted against a little progress,
we can consider something almost cooler than them both.
The positive and negative implications of owning one.
It's a first.
A positive.
Language barriers are often seen as the biggest challenge to communication.
To potentially eliminate those means good news for global business.
A May of 2012, CNBC article reported on a survey in which out of 600 executives
from across the world, 49% admitted that communication misunderstandings have stood
in the way of major international business deals.
Speech translation technology is significant in alleviating some of these concerns.
Because it enables speakers of different languages to erase the language divide.
Making any crossroads exchange just a little more equitable.
All in hopes of ultimately -- let's be honest here -- sealing the deal quicker.
Now not only will SIGMO aid you on a business front,
but it will aid you on a leisurely level as well.
SIGMO is easily transported anywhere we need to go.
It's perfect for those who love to travel, but hate to be not able to communicate
when they're carelessly jet-setting the globe.
Now for the negative.
Language barriers are the biggest challenge of communication.
And there just doesn't exist a current translation technology
that would actually threaten the need for language instruction courses.
If there was, I probably wouldn't have taken five years of Spanish,
and put off going to Spain three times.
But if SIGMO is that device, or we see companies like Google and Microsoft succeed sooner,
some pretty crazy things could happen.
Right now, if you want to speak to someone in a different language, the most effective way
of doing so is to learn that very language.
But what happens when that's no longer the case?
"Time Magazine's" November of 2012 article considers this a downfall
of universal speech translation capabilities.
When it explains that externalizing so much of what we do mentally
with computers is making a show more cognitively speaking.
What happens when we outsource our brains linguistically?
Why if you could clip something onto your shirt "Star Trek" style,
would you bother to actually learn a second language,
when a computer would save you the effort.
The "New York Times" revisits this idea when they address in a May of 2013 edition
that the collective evidence from many studies has always suggested
that the bilingual experience improves the brains executive function.
This is a command system that directs our attention processes responsible for planning.
Solving problems.
Switching attention willfully from one thing to another, and holding information in mind.
Like this speech.
Though I don't know that my five years of Spanish really constitute
that bilingual experience, still this research upholds the notion
that learning a second language is, in fact, an exercise in cognitive problem solving.
We wonder if we truly want to own a device that might potentially marginalize those kills.
So today we first began by exploring why it's been so difficult
to perfect this device in the past.
Second, we considered the way a few well-known companies are fighting for a stake
in completing one, before finally considering implications both positive and negative.
Dr. David Lauder in the Pacific African Republic might not be too keen on owning this device
for himself, but he says he does have a new first choice for best superpower.
The power of universal conversation.
To understand any language as it's spoken, and then reply idioms and all and be understood.
Either way, language courses and superpowers just aren't working for you?
It won't really make a difference.
Because the speech translation technology that's on its way promises to do all the work for you.
[ Applause ]
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