The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, has announced the release of two new multi-language translation applications, Textra and Voicetra. VoiceTra is a voice translation application enabling conversation via voice input, and TexTra is a text input-based translation application. Both applications enable high-quality translation among multiple languages and are available for download from the App Store.
Voicetra
VoiceTra for voice input
Download at http://itunes.apple.com/app/id383542155?mt=8 Compatible with iPhone 3G, 3GS, and 4, VoiceTra accepts voice input in Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, English, Indonesian, Vietnamese, and Malay (in progress). Support for additional languages is forthcoming.
Download at http://itunes.apple.com/app/id383803959?mt=8 Requiring no microphone input, TexTra is compatible with iPod touch and with iPhone 3G, 3GS, and 4. TexTra can translate from 19 languages to 20 languages. (Translation from Hindi and Vietnamese not supported on iOS 3.0 due to lack of keyboard support.)
Textra
The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology states three ongoing goals for the technology: to boost translation quality by incorporating usage data; to place translation technology in the hands of more people by widening the range of application; and to commercialize the technology in partnership with private firms.
