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The concept of 'mobile' has evolved significantly with the advent of mobile applications that empower professional translators to work from virtually anywhere. Prior to the introduction of genuinely mobile-centric translation solutions, mobile translation primarily referred to either the localization of mobile applications themselves (i.e., translating the user interface of mobile apps into various languages) or mobile translation applications that utilized machine translation (MT) to convert foreign text.
For instance, there are applications available for both Android and iOS that offer real-time translation of street signs in languages such as Japanese and French into the user's native language through the use of optical character recognition (OCR) technology followed by machine translation (MT). Additionally, other tools have been created to convert a person's spoken words into another language using methods like text-to-speech, text-to-text, or speech-to-speech. A common feature of these tools is their reliance on machine algorithms rather than human translators for the translation process. Nevertheless, many of these applications offer a fast and convenient means of obtaining translations, providing significant value for travelers or individuals engaging in conversations with speakers of different languages. However, despite the advancements in machine translation, it still falls short for businesses that demand cultural nuance, contextual understanding, and industry-specific translations. Such content requires 100% accuracy, which can only be guaranteed through human translation.
In contrast, true mobile translation applications are specifically designed software for mobile devices that allow translators to conduct professional human translation directly from their smartphones. Up until now, professional translation tools have predominantly been desktop-based, utilizing complex workflows and sophisticated interface designs to manage the vast amounts of multilingual content in the world. For this reason, the potential for mobile translation had been largely overlooked, as localization software developers believed that mobile screens were too small to efficiently handle large volumes of text, which is a typical requirement in translation processes.
Currently, there are millions of apps available globally. Apps have become integral to our daily lives and business operations, yet only a handful actually enable users to generate additional income. The most successful apps – those that facilitate earning money – are quite rare. While Uber and AirBnB have achieved remarkable success, they necessitate that users possess a car or real estate. This is why a translation app that allows users to monetize their language skills is revolutionary. In many respects, translation apps are ideally suited for mobile devices because they do not rely on external equipment to complete transactions, enabling users to earn money solely through their mobile devices, anywhere they are.
The initial versions of mobile translation applications relied on machine translation (MT) to convert whatever appeared on the mobile display, resulting in few opportunities for users to earn money. This is why innovative mobile translation applications are transforming the industry, as they function as professional translation tools right on your smartphone.
Below is a compilation of the most widely used mobile translation applications available today. As mobile translation increasingly plays a vital role in global communication, this list is expected to grow significantly.
Google Translate
Google Translate is a free service from Google for translating text, documents, handwriting, speech, and websites from one language to another using neural machine translation. This service is available in mobile apps for Android and iOS, as well as on the web, and supports over 200 languages, including several regional languages from Indonesia.
DeepL
DeepL is an AI-powered platform offering advanced translation, writing assistance, and real-time voice communication features in multiple languages. It uses neural machine translation (NMT) to provide natural-sounding and contextually accurate translations, enhanced by features like custom glossaries and formal/informal tone control. DeepL helps individuals and businesses overcome language barriers by offering tools for text, document, and even live voice translation, along with an API for integration into other systems.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT is an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI that uses natural language processing to generate human-like text and engage in conversations. Standing for Generative Pre-trained Transformer, it learns from massive amounts of internet text to produce responses to user prompts, assisting with tasks like translating, writing, coding, summarizing, and answering question
Bing Translator
Bing Translator is a translation service from Microsoft that provides real-time translation of text, speech, and images across numerous languages, using advanced AI to offer nuanced and dynamic translations. It is available for free for personal use on the web, as a standalone app, or integrated into other Microsoft products, though a paid version exists for businesses
Although currently there are many artificial intelligence-based machine translation applications/programs, in essence, machine translation is not yet able to surpass human translation results.
At Translindotama, businesses or individuals requiring high-quality translation can easily take advantage of our document translation services. Document translation services at Translindotama are processed manually without the help of translation machines. All services are processed by human translators who are officially recognized and certified as Sworn Translators.
