Universal Translation as an Open and Mobile Tool

My future forecast combines a desire for a tool that will combine a universal translator with Deep Learning capabilities, real language processing and an immersive augmented reality style apparel or accessory that allows for instant and accurate translation in any language and for any situation. There are multiple mobile translations technologies and applications in existence but none have come close to instant and accurate translation.

My Inspiration

My name is Louisa Green and I have been living and teaching in Japan for twenty years. Despite having studied Japanese for many years, I still dread going to the bank or having to negotiate anything over the phone. The reasons for this are simply that I still have trouble comprehending certain levels of written and spoken Japanese.

There are three separate writing systems in Japan including: Katakana, Hiragana and Kanji. Additionally, there are numerous levels of polite/formal ways to address different members of society in Japanese. This system is called Keigo. This complex language system is what has led me to dream about the need for a better universal translator technology.

敬語 = Keigo

漢字 = Kanji

ひらがな = Hiragana

カタカナ= Katakana

Universal Translation Depicted in Popular Culture

There are numerous examples of mobile universal translation technology in popular fiction, television programs and movies.

Image credited to LA Times via Getty Images

Image credited to Paramount Global

Douglas Adams: Babelfish in The Hitchhikers Guide To The Universe

Star Wars C3PO: a protocol droid to assist in etiquette, customs, and translation, fluent in over six million forms of communication

Hiroshi Sato: Linguist
Communications officer

Start Trek Explorer