The world has more than 7,000 languages. Although it may sound like a lot, the reality is that many of these languages are dying. To preserve a dying language and to combat the language barrier, many companies have made the best use out of the current technological advancements.

We have summed up 4 of the latest news in the translation technology industry in this blog post.

1. Google To Preserve Endangered Languages With AI

Google Arts & Culture is an online platform of high-resolution images and videos of artworks and cultural artifacts from partner cultural organizations throughout the world.

The not-for-profit online platform has recently decided to preserve endangered languages in the form of an artificial intelligence-based open-source application, Woolaroo. Woolaroo helps to promote endangered languages by using interactive and educational tools.

Woolaroo uses a person’s phone camera to discover an object and translate it into its native word with pronunciation. Since it is an open-source application, anyone can contribute to the Woolaroo library.

The platform is currently available in 10 different languages, including Yugambeh which is an aboriginal language from South Queensland with only one surviving speaker, and Nawat which has less than 500 speakers. The application is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, French, Italian.

2. Real-Time Phone Call Translator

You would have heard of video translation, live transcription, and live translation, but have you heard about real-time phone call translator? iTourTranslator has made real-time phone translation possible. Here’s how it works.

First, you would need to send a link to the phone call receiver. The call can be made from various social platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Line, Telegram, or WeChat. The call translated call can be made when the receiver clicks on the link. The receiver does not need to download nor register to the app.

Let’s say the caller speaks English and the receiver speaks Indonesian. When the caller speaks, the receiver will get the message translated into Indonesian, and when the receiver replies in Indonesian the caller will get it translated into English.

iTourTranslator currently supports these languages: English, Spanish, German, French, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Arabic, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Portuguese, Catalan, and Thai.

3. First Available ASL (American Sign Language) Bible

After a long 15 years, the world’s first Bible translation into American Sign Language (ASL) on video is completed with the help of nearly 100 volunteers.

“It was the first time in history, the Deaf community, those who read and spoke ASL, had a complete Bible available to them in any community, anywhere on the globe,” said Robert J. Hendriks III, U.S. Spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The ASL Bible was originally designed to be put on DVDs. However, as technology advances, the project is made into videos that are available on a smartphone app.

Hopefully, this innovation can be a beginning of a breakthrough for the deaf and hard of hearing communities around the world.

4. Cambodian Students Created A STEM Translation Application

Ratantepy Narin, a Cambodian high school student, loves to find learning resources on the internet. The biggest problem she encountered was most of the materials were in English. To solve this problem, she and three of her classmates with the help of a local freelance consultant Cassandra Mok decided to build an app.

Narin, Leakena Chea, Vuthnyneath Tep, and Chherika Chheal under the name of Teen4tech created the app after participating in the Technovation Girls competition program.

Four months later, ScholarED is released. ScholarEd is an app that translates the complex terminology of the STEM subjects from English to Khmer.

“We’re hoping that everyone can learn anything online. We don’t want a language barrier to limit anyone’s knowledge or their potential online education,” said Narin.

The Teen4Tech team has received positive feedback. Hopefully, the app can help Cambodians grow their potential in the STEM industry.

The Video Translator team is very happy to know that there are more people who are interested in translation technology. We understand the importance of language and we want to preserve that.

Here at Video Translator, you can transcribe, translate and dub your videos into 60+ languages and 150+ dialects. Our platform uses Artificial Intelligence to perform the mentioned services.

Our services have successfully made a meaningful impact on people. Read how we helped our client to leave a long-lasting legacy here.

For more information and questions regarding our services, do not hesitate to contact us at hello@videotranslator.ai .