Skype Translator

The world of translation has a new vein thanks to new technologies And there are more and more tools that help to universalization of relationships, culture and content Google has led the way in recent years thanks to its useful service Google Translate, which has applications that are now capable of to carry out simultaneous translations when speaking with another person live and direct.However, the company Microsoft is not far behind, and has introduced in its most famous communication application a technology that also allows simultaneous translations of conversations. It is Skype Translator A tool that we have tested and of which we offer you our impressions in detail below.

This is an application that, at the moment, is only available for computers with the operating system Windows 8.1 and, also, inpreview or trial version Something that indicates that still has several steps to go before reaching the general publicHowever, it is possible to download it and test its virtues (and also its failures) in first person, managing to translate video calls into live and live so that language is not a problem when communicating. All this while is transmitted in video and audio, to avoid losing the non-verbal communicationOf course, it is necessary to wait a few seconds while Skype captures and emits the translation through its voice synthesizer. But a more than acceptable time to be able to maintain a fluent and comfortable conversation between two people.

Facility

The application Skype Translator Preview is open to all users who want to use and try it, without the need to register as betatester or test user Of course, it must be installed as Skype's usual application (the one that does not have a translator and is available to everyone) from Windows Store, using a Skype account Microsoft user or your own Skype account If you don't have one, it's always possible carry out a quick registration using a email address and a password, being able to later configure other information such as the username or a profile picture.After this step, all that remains is to specify the language of the user himself to go to the main screen, where the contacts and recent conversations and thecan be found. male or female voice that will represent you in the translations.

This entire process is guided by the application itself, so the user will only have to follow the different steps. Of course, always paying attention to the installation screen that informs about the recording of the user's conversations. And it is that Skype Translator Preview is not the best option for private chats, since it saves and analyzes the conversations always with the focus on improving its recognition service and translation.

Preparation

Skype Translator Preview has nothing to envy to the application Skype , in fact it is an improved version where it is possible activate the Translation tab to receive everything said or written by the other user in our language.However, to make the best use of this technology and get the best experience, it is best to use a microphone independent. In other words, either a headset with integrated microphone like those used by telemarketers, or a boom microphone that moves away from the computer speakers and that allows to pick up a quality sound. Questions that will significantly help this application to correctly understand what is being said, thus helping to make the experience somewhat less ridiculous and with slightly more refined translations Although it is far from perfect.

In addition to the installation process, the user can access, from the information window of any contact, the menu translator settings Enough Click on the toothed wheel to display the menu and choose the voice of Ricardo or Julia (male or female voice synthesizer), the language of writing and speaking of the user himself, the rhythm of the intervals for the application to translate or evena filter to prevent swearing and profanity.

With all this, all that remains is to select the language of the person with whom you are going to speak. And it is that, if they do not have the same version of Skype Translator Preview, it will be the user himself who chooses in which language it is to speak and write to be able to translate correctly.

The translation

The process of setup and preparation is anything but complex Every point is guided, and the first time it is used Skype Translator Preview each function is explained by a tutorial However, it is the key part so that the translation be correct and in tune. Something that, as we have said before, is far from reaching perfection.

Once a video call is started with the translation feature enabled, both users can talk as usual.More or less. All you have to do is say a phrase for Skype to recognize it with greater or lesser accuracy, and then translate it in the same sense in which it was issued. A process that is fully automatic and that only gets stuck sometimes for more than two seconds However , the process is usually quite smooth At least during our tests. Of course, it is recommended that both users use microphone with headphones and have an excellent Internet connectionfor the best possible experience.

As we said, the process is completely automatic, and you just have to get used to waiting a few seconds to hear the voice of the translator with the phrase in our language, or in that of the other.

Our experience

Let's say it quickly so it doesn't hurt: Skype Translator Preview is far from perfect And if it's not used in a computer with microphone and good Internet connection for both users of the conversation, the result is disappointing and frustrating And sometimes hilarious Although comparisons are hateful, Skype still can't to recognize the words dictated by the user at the level of what is seen in Google, which is the first problem for your translator. This can lead to translations that are ridiculous and completely out of line with reality The second problem is that it is not possible to speak naturally In this way, they are left out of the conversation colloquial expressions and set phrases You have to htalk for a translator and not for a person on the other end of the connection.Something that limits expressiveness, although we must take into account the problems of language change.

It's also true that there are times when Skype Translator Preview hits the spot, or at least very nearly. It is in those cases when it surprises its agility and possibilities, since it makes its use make sense and is really practical if the other language is completely unknown. But to do so, you have to speak carefully, thinking that you are talking to a machine, and that you have to express yourself clearly in front of the microphone

Conclusions

At the moment Skype Translator Preview is an amazing but impractical toolIt is necessary to have at least some knowledge of the other user's language to be aware of the translations and try to correct any errors All this with the necessary equipment, since, if not, the variables and errors increase. Now, promises a lot And, to improve voice recognition and fine-tune translations, also taking into account expressions and not just single words, could end many communication problems. Although you should also take into account that not all users will use standalone microphone if one is already arriving integrated with their laptops and computers

At the moment it has a lot of work ahead of it Something that they should solve during the summer, since the next version is expected to be released for all at the end of this period. All this while being able to simultaneously translate video calls in Spanish, Italian, English and Mandarin But also translate instant messagessent in written form in as many as 50 other languagesAspirations that could restore the importance that Skype had in its day some time ago, almost completely eradicating, with a lot of time and work, language problems. Of course, for now they are only promises