Now, Google will translate road signs to Hindi

Google Translate's new update will enable you to point the camera at say, a road sign in a given language, and convert it to English, or vice versa, for 18 new languages.

Now, Google will translate road signs to Hindi
NEW DELHI: Imagine going on a trip to a non-English speaking country and skipping language lessons, or not having to manually type into a translation or dictionary app on your phone to get your way around. This is exactly what the new update to Google Translate’s app will let you do.

The new update will enable you to point the camera at say, a road sign in a given language, and convert it to English, or vice versa, for 18 new languages, and oneway translation from English to Hindi and Thai.

“Instant visual translation” earlier worked for seven languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

“Globally, Google Translate has 500 million monthly active users, across platforms,” said Julie Cattiau, product manager at Google. Of these, Translate receives the highest traffic from Brazil (Portuguese), followed by English, Spanish and Russian.

As part of the new update, the Translate app will work faster in slower networks, which are a common issue in developing markets such as India, for real-time translations of voice conversations in 32 languages.


ADVERTISEMENT

The image recognition, however, works even without a data connection. To enable translations from pictures or sign boards to text in different languages, Google has used image recognition technology from Word Lens, a startup it acquired earlier.

“We’ve used deep learning or neural networks, mimicking how the human brain sees things, and trained it (the app) how to read the language on a sign” explained Otávio Good, a software engineer at Google Translate.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App
for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Here are the best features coming from Apple & Google in near future
1/4
Text: AP

New features promised for smartphones, tablets and watches could improve how we interact with technology.

Although it's too soon to tell how well these will work in practice, here's a look at what to look forward to this fall...
Text: AP

New features promised for smartphones, tablets and watches could improve how we interact with technology.

Although it's too soon to tell how well these will work in ..
Read More
You would like to do other things, such as checking email or Facebook, when I'm watching video. Laptops let you do this. With iPads, video stops as soon as you open another app. You need to pick up a second device to multitask.

With the upcoming iOS 9 update, you can slide a window from the right of an iPad to launch a second app, such as a map when you're doing email. Best of all, you can have video running in a small window in the foreground while you do other things with an app that takes up the rest of the screen. You can even move the video off screen and still listen to its audio while you work.

Samsung has tried this with some Android phones and tablets, with mixed success. Video sometimes stops anyway when you try to run it on the side, as apps weren't designed with this in mind. With Apple, it will be a core feature.
You would like to do other things, such as checking email or Facebook, when I'm watching video. Laptops let you do this. With iPads, video stops as soon as you open another app. You need to pick up a..
Read More
Apple Maps has improved a lot for driving and walking directions since it ousted Google Maps in 2012 as the default service on iPhones. Transit directions are coming with iOS 9, though only in select cities at first. In the US, that will be Baltimore, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, the San Francisco Bay Area and Washington. It's not everywhere, but it's a good start.

On Android, Google Maps will get offline navigation, matching what Windows phones offer with Here Maps. You'll get turn-by-turn directions and details on local businesses even when cellular service is sketchy or nonexistent. You'll have to download a specific region of the map ahead of time, and it's not yet clear how easy or how wide of a region that will be. It's also not yet known whether this feature will extend to Google Maps on iPhones.
Apple Maps has improved a lot for driving and walking directions since it ousted Google Maps in 2012 as the default service on iPhones. Transit directions are coming with iOS 9, though only in select..
Read More
Siri on Apple devices and Google Now on Android devices are supposed to get smarter by doing more based on context. Calling on Google's assistant while listening to a song might give you information on the artist. Doing so while reading an email on movie plans might get you reviews and trailers. Siri, meanwhile, should know whether you're going on a run or getting in a car. You might automatically get music on a run, but an audiobook in your car.

Siri also promises to anticipate your needs. If you have a meeting coming up, she'll remind you to leave, factoring in current traffic. Google Now has been doing that for years, with mixed results. I get reminders to leave for the airport followed by directions back home, for instance. I look forward to seeing how well Siri and Google Now perform with the upcoming smarts.
Siri on Apple devices and Google Now on Android devices are supposed to get smarter by doing more based on context. Calling on Google's assistant while listening to a song might give you information ..
Read More
READ MORE
ADVERTISEMENT

READ MORE:

LOGIN & CLAIM

50 TIMESPOINTS

More from our Partners

Loading next story
Business News › Magazines › Panache › Now, Google will translate road signs to Hindi
Text Size:AAA
Success
This article has been saved

*

+