Augmented Translation Unveiled: A Technological Leap in Language Communication

A few years ago, there was a popular game that allowed people to catch cute monsters in real life locations using the camera and screen on their smartphones.

This is called Augmented Reality (AR). It enhances a version of the real physical world through the use of digital visual elements, sound, or other sensory stimuli, delivered via technology. 

AR can have a multitude of uses in various industries, and one of the most intriguing and transformative developments in recent years is the integration of Augmented Reality (AR) into language translation. Augmented Translation is not just a buzzword; it can be a game-changer for language service providers (LSPs), holding immense potential for reshaping how we communicate across linguistic barriers. From business to travel, AR is proving to be a versatile tool, and its application in language translation is at the forefront of this technological revolution.

This article explores the ins and outs of AR translations, delving into its roots, functionalities, and the profound impact it has on global interaction.

What is Augmented Translation?

Augmented Translation is the marriage of augmented reality technology with language translation processes. At its core, it transforms conventional methods of translating languages, leveraging the capabilities of augmented reality to provide real-time language comprehension and communication. 

As the American Translators’ Association (ATA) notes with its correspondence with Common Sense Advisory Research (CSA), augmented reality translation isn’t completely new. Augmented translation changes the game by integrating one of the more time-consuming processes of translation, hunting for external informational resources, into the tool, allowing translators to maintain their work pace without diverting their attention to other tasks.

This innovative approach has found most of its relevance in cross-cultural interactions, such as business and travel, where effective relationship building is a necessity.

Evolution of Augmented Translation Technology

To appreciate the significance of Augmented Translation in today’s language world, we must trace the evolution of translation technology. 

Machine translation started in the 1950s, when IBM announced its development of the first rules-based machine translation system from Russian to English. However, machine translation was still in its infancy, without its current speed and accuracy, which will only be developed decades later.

The 1980s saw a significant improvement to machine translation with the introduction of statistical machine translation, which uses very large sets of previously approved translated texts to make a model of the most reasonable and probable translation to an untranslated text. This statistical model then became the foundation of the machine translation engines that people use today, such as Google Translate.

Around the 2000s, statistical machine translation was further improved with the development of neural machine translation, which uses a neural network to predict the likelihood of a set of words in sequence. This became the basis of most of the machine translation engines we know of today.

The Rise of Linguistic AI and Augmented Translation

The latest chapter in this narrative is AR-assisted translation, capitalizing on the progress made in both AI and AR technologies. Machine learning algorithms, capable of understanding context and nuance, have become integral to AR translation applications, ensuring a more accurate and fluid linguistic experience.

AI enhances AR translations, making them more adaptive and context-aware with each use. It also explores potential future developments, including improvements in natural language processing and the integration of AR translation in wearable devices.

Let us compare the more traditional translation process to AI-assisted translations. The traditional method may lack immediacy in addition to more costs for the user. AI-assisted translations bring speed, but it will sometimes struggle with deeper language nuances. AR translations can bridge this gap by providing real-time, context-aware information for users, balancing both benefits without experiencing heavier translation drawbacks.

Augmented Translation in Action

The potential of AR translation requires the understanding of how this technology works. On most modern smartphones, be it an iPhone or an Android device, has a camera that captures real-time text on specially made applications, overlaying translations directly onto the user's screen.

Some of the real-world applications for this range from seamlessly navigating foreign cities by translating street signs to decoding menus in a language unfamiliar to the user. AR apps can be a portable method of communication for languages that do not necessarily use text for communication, such as sign language, and rare languages that might be on the verge of extinction, as the Atlantis Press discusses.

Case Study: Augmented Reality Translation and Google Glass

In 2013, Google ventured into the world of Augmented Reality with its unveiling of Google Glass, which allows people to wear a voice- and motion-controlled Android device resembling a pair of glasses. Google Glass displays information directly in the user's field of vision, marketed as a way of connecting users to the outside world while helping people remain engaged and focused on their work.

While the reception of the device has been critical, causing an early end of public sales, Google Glass and its future iterations gives us an insight on how translations work using this technology.

Not only do current devices show only closed captioning—real-time text spelling out what another person is saying in the same language—but also allows translations to and from two languages, enabling people who speak English and Mandarin, for example, have a conversation while also letting hearing-impaired users see what others are saying to them.

The glasses would also solve a major pain point with using Google Translate: using audio translation overlaps with the real-time conversation. The visual elements of the translation allows people to follow topics much more easily and naturally.

The Future of Augmented Reality Translations

As we get a glimpse of AR Translation’s capabilities, the future trends in this branch of machine translation technology can be limitless. From improved accuracy and expanded language support to the integration of AR into everyday devices, the potential breakthroughs in this field are exciting. AR Translations can have a broader impact on communication and global interaction, especially if its integrated devices become commonplace in the public and market. 

Conclusion

Augmented Translation is not just a technological marvel; it's a revolutionary tool that has the potential to redefine how we communicate in a globalized world. From its roots in traditional translation to the intersection of AI and machine translation, augmented reality translation has evolved and has started to make significant waves in the language industry. But what effect would AR translations have in the long run? Share your thoughts, experiences, and predictions in the comments section or through social media.