Microsoft launched a public preview of its Skype Translator, which provides a real time translation for both chat messages and voice calls.
The Skype Translator can only translate between English and Spanish languages initially during the preview. The software is a result of the work from Skype and the Redmond company's research team.
The preview is compatible with Windows 8.1 users and for those who are currently running Windows 10 preview copies.
The translator translates voice input from either a Spanish or English speaker into translated audio or text. The Spanish speaker will then hear the Spanish translation instantly, while the English speaker will also hear the English translation, resulting in a seamless conversation without the language barrier.
The Skype Translator is being marketed by Microsoft as a revolutionary tool of learning for schools. The tech giant posted a video showing the real time translator in action with students from the Mexico and the United States. The video shows two young female students conversing in English and Spanish simultaneously, while being auto- translated by the Skype Translator.
Skype is already widely used in learning situations, with many teachers, professors and instructors using the video call software to hold online conferences and classes across the world.
The real time translator was first tested internally, but Microsoft is now opening the software to a wider userbase for further testing.
Aside from voice calls, the Skype Translator is also being tested by Microsoft to translate instant messaging exchanges. To date, the translator supports over 40 languages. Users who wish to try the Skype Translator will need to request for an invite at their official website.
Gurdeep Pall, the corporate vice president of Microsoft said that the goal of the Skype Translator is to be able to translate "as many as languages as possible."
The Skype Translator is powered by language data from Microsoft's Bing Translator with fancy algorithms implemented for speech "disfluencies."
Microsoft launched a public preview of its Skype Translator, which provides a real time translation for both chat messages and voice calls.
The Skype Translator can only translate between English and Spanish languages initially during the preview. The software is a result of the work from Skype and the Redmond company's research team.
The preview is compatible with Windows 8.1 users and for those who is currently running Windows 10 preview copies.
The translator translates voice input from either a Spanish or English speaker into translated audio or text. The Spanish speaker will then hear the Spanish translation instantly, while the English speaker will also hear the English translation, resulting in a seamless conversation without the language barrier.
The Skype Translator is being marketed by Microsoft as a revolutionary tool of learning for schools. The tech giant posted a video showing the real time translator in action with students from the Mexico and the United States. The video shows two young female students conversing in English and Spanish simultaneously, while being auto- translated by the Skype Translator.
Skype is already widely used in learning situations, with many teachers, professors and instructors using the video call software to hold online conferences and classes across the world.
The real time translator was first tested internally, but Microsoft is now opening the software to a wider userbase for further testing.
Aside from voice calls, the Skype Translator is also being tested by Microsoft to translate instant messaging exchanges. To date, the translator supports over 40 languages. Users who wish to try the Skype Translator will need to request for an invite at their official website.
Gurdeep Pall, the corporate vice president of Microsoft said that the goal of the Skype Translator is to be able to translate "as many as languages as possible."
The Skype Translator is powered by language data from Microsoft's Bing Translator with fancy algorithms implemented for speech "disfluencies."