Microsoft's people have been working on dynamic translation for Skype for quite some time, aiming to dissolve language barriers and at the same time position itself as a unique option in the market. The project required more than nine months in beta, but Redmond has concluded that Skype Translator has reached a sufficient level to enter the territory of the public preview.
From science fiction to Skype
The idea of a universal translator is one of the most recurring details in science fiction, and we as consumers of that content already take it for granted: from small golden brooches on uniforms to an alien fish in the ear, the concept of a universal translator has accompanied us for decades. I personally believe that technology has already reached the performance needed to provide basic functionality, and by that I mean we can use a software platform as an intermediary in translation. That platform is none other than Skype, offering its brand-new public preview of the Translator.
What does the public preview offer?
Right now, Skype's real-time universal translator supports six spoken languages: Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, and Mandarin Chinese. In chat mode, the list extends to 50 languages. From what we've heard, the translations use the same voices as the Cortana system, but if something gets lost along the way, the Skype interface presents a transcription with the complete content of the conversation. Skype Translator is the result of nine months (and a bit more) in beta, collecting user feedback and implementing internal corrections.
Known limitations
Naturally, Skype Translator still has several sharp edges, and among its technical limitations we've discovered that the preview is only compatible with Windows 8.1 or later, not to mention that both participants must meet the same conditions. On the other hand, voice recognition on Windows requires a decent microphone, something we learned the hard way with the “tendency toward deafness” that Cortana suffers when using built-in microphones. Reports from some users indicate that Skype Translator works better than the classic desktop version of Skype, although that doesn't take away its “preview pains”.
Want to try it? The link is below.
