Although the new Genie Talk cannot replace a professional translator since it is incapable of translating complex words, users will readily find it useful for not complicated communication contexts, for example, when traveling in another country. (image: ETRI)
SEOUL, Sep. 2 (Korea Bizwire) – An instant automatic translation application for a smartphone has been newly released so that with its new version users are expected to make good use of it when traveling in another country, even without the Internet connection.
On Sep. 1, the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) launched and demonstrated the new Genie Talk, an instant automatic translation application, at Incheon International Airport. Although ETRI demoed the application, with a portable USB connected, it is expected to be downloadable and afterwards be used without any connection, at the end of this year.
In 2012 when the first Genie Talk was released, people gravitated toward it since it provided an on-the-spot translation in multiple languages: Korean, Japanese, English, and Chinese. Despite its practical performance, there are such downsides as a smartphone should be always connected to the Internet to use the application; slow Internet speeds can frustrate users; users communicate while putting a smartphone in the middle of them.
The new Genie Talk has cleared up the above technical impediments in a way that all programs needed for translation are installed in a smartphone. Moreover, Bluetooth, a wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances, enables two conversation parties to receive translation at any minute.
Although the new Genie Talk cannot replace a professional translator since it is incapable of translating complex words, users will readily find it useful for not complicated communication contexts, for example, when traveling in another country. ETRI said that it allows users to perform unchallenging tasks like checking in a hotel, asking directions, and shopping for things.
ETRI plans to launch an application called ‘Incheon Metropolitan Translating Assistant’ adding comprehensive sports terms to the new Genie so as to better serve international athletes and visitors at the upcoming 14th Asian Games. The application will be available free of charge on Apple’s iTunes App Store and Google’s Android Market. It performs in the WiFi connection like the old Genie, though.
Kim Heung-nam, president of ETRI, said, “At the Asian Games, Genie Talk serves translation in four languages: Korean, Chinese, English, and Japanese. Furthermore, we are setting up our great efforts to expand its language capabilities to more than eight different languages before the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games.”
By Eugene Yu (eugene@koreabizwire.com)
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