Sharp has developed a prototype personal translator that should make life easier for Japanese tourists when they travel abroad. Ceatec Entrance The prototype translator, which works only with English and Japanese, is roughly the same size as a small PDA and sits comfortably in the hand. When a user speaks into the translator in either English or Japanese, the gray-scale liquid crystal display (LCD) will first display a transcription before offering a translation into the other language.If the translation is done from Japanese into English, the user can press a button and the translator will pronounce the English phrase using its text-to-speech function. This function does not work with Japanese. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe The translator, which was on display at the Ceatec exhibition in Chiba, Japan, relies on voice-recognition software from IBM and then applies translation software used in Sharp’s pocket translators to convert this text into Japanese or English as required. Sharp Translator Currently, the device supports only Japanese and English, but it has a Micro SD memory card slot, which allows for Sharp to add support for more languages, said Toshiyuki Matsumara, a company spokesman. Sharp plans to commercialize the translator at the end of this year, Matsumara said. Pricing for the device, which will be sold only in Japan, has not yet been decided. -Sumner Lemon, IDG News Service (Singapore Bureau)Related Links: Sharp Develops Triple-View LCD Ceatec: Japanese PC Makers Lead Convergence Push Fujitsu Shows Off Prototype PC Designs at Ceatec NTT DoCoMo Unveils Fuel Cell Prototype at Ceatec Intelligent Putter Boosts Your Golf Game Hitachi Maxell Develops Wafer-Thin Storage DiscCheck out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage. Related content feature Gen AI success starts with an effective pilot strategy To harness the promise of generative AI, IT leaders must develop processes for identifying use cases, educate employees, and get the tech (safely) into their hands. By Bob Violino Sep 27, 2023 10 mins Generative AI Innovation Emerging Technology feature A fluency in business and tech yields success at NATO Manfred Boudreaux-Dehmer speaks with Lee Rennick, host of CIO Leadership Live, Canada, about innovation in technology, leadership across a vast cultural landscape, and what it means to hold the inaugural CIO role at NATO. By CIO staff Sep 27, 2023 6 mins CIO IT Skills Innovation feature The demand for new skills: How can CIOs optimize their team? By Andrea Benito Sep 27, 2023 3 mins opinion The CIO event of the year: What to expect at CIO100 ASEAN Awards By Shirin Robert Sep 26, 2023 3 mins IDG Events IT Leadership Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe