The new normal – Corona times in the translations world

Wonders never seize!  When the Covid-19 pandemic made face masks an everyday essential, Japanese startup Donut Robotics spotted an opportunity. As people around the world are being urged to wear face masks when out in public, it hasn’t taken long for the functionality of a mask to be greatly enhanced but thanks to technology. The Donut Robotics has created a smart mask (C-Face smart mask) – a high-tech upgrade to standard face coverings, designed to make communication and social distancing easier through translations.

How the smart face mask works in conjunction with the translations world

Conjointly with an app, the C-Face Smart mask can transcribe dictation amplify the wearer’s voice, and translate speech into eight different languages. As you’d expect, the mask doesn’t work on its own, its instead relying on a wireless link (Bluetooth) to a smartphone and Donut Robotics’ software. The associated app uses machine learning developed with the help of translation experts and specializes in the Japanese language to handle language translations. Most competitor apps focus on translating to and from English. Donut Robotics CEO Taisuke Ono claims it’s “better than Google API, or other popular technologies” for Japanese.

Donut Robotics first developed the translations software for a robot called Cinnamon but when the pandemic hit, the robot project was put on hold. That’s when the team’s engineers came up with the idea to use their software in a facemask.

The new normal corona times in the translations world

The cutouts on the front are vital for breathability, so the smart mask doesn’t offer protection against the corona virus. Instead, it is designed to be worn over a standard face mask, explains Donut Robotics CEO Taisuke Ono. Made of white plastic and silicone, it has an embedded microphone that connects to the wearer’s smartphone via Bluetooth. The system can translate between Japanese and Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indonesian, English, Spanish and French.

The impact of Smart face masks in communication amidst Covid-19 Social distancing rules

The mask’s Bluetooth chip can connect to smartphones up to 32 feet (10 meters) away, says Ono. He hopes the mask will make new social distancing norms in locations including hospitals and offices easier, by enabling good communication.

“We still have many situations where we have to meet in person,” he says. “In this new normal … the mask and the app are very helpful.”

The future of these new normal smart face masks

The company is expecting to make the mask available from January 2021 at a cost of roughly $38. If you want to take advantage of the translations and dictation features, there’s going to be a monthly charged, but the ongoing cost has yet to be disclosed. It also seems likely this will be the first of many smart masks to appear in the coming months, because companies are now realizing this is a new category of wearable and there’s the potential for millions of customers.

Why your business shouldn’t lag behind in the new normal times – Covid-19 times

Simply take a look why you need language translations services even in the new normal era:

  • Due to the pandemic, most businesses have switched to online operation. And so, you need translations for the growth of your online business. Though online businesses generally target a particular group of people of a country sometimes it has been seen that visitors from other countries also visit your website. Language translation services provide a translator medium which translates your website into different languages.
  • Hiring language translation services helps you attract a large audience to your business. In business, the products should speak the language but to advertise your products and services and to reach a global audience, you need a medium. Translations will increase your business to an extent you wouldn’t have ever thought.
  • There are many companies that need a translation of the technical text. Outsourcing language translation services in Africa helps you concentrate on your business goals and the translation work to be done by the efficient team of translators. You invest a little money and in return, you get to expand your business globally.
  • Language translations are specially used in travel and tourism. Translators are required to translate the history of the nation to the tourists visiting the country for vacation.

Language translation services have a huge scope in every field.

  • Localization translators have an aim of spreading the product information in different languages and cultures. They possess a high degree of knowledge about the product and the local users of the product. The main aim of the localization translators is to adapt the product information from where it has been manufactured and spread it where it will be actually sold.
  • Then there are specialized business translators who translate the information of finance, e-commerce, marketing among others to the dealers from other corners of the world. The aim is to expand the business. They possess great knowledge of business as well as both the languages.
  • Medical translators and interpreters promote communication between the hospital management and the patients. Medical translators have strong knowledge of both medical as well as conversational terms in both the languages.
  • Conference interpreters generally work in international forums where the people come from all around the world. Conference interpreters are a pro at translating languages into active as well as passive form during this new normal era.

Language translation services in Africa are affordable and provide the best services for the expansion of all types of businesses whether small scale or large scale. Language translations are used everywhere, whether in tourism, business or medical department.

Take no chances!

You can’t afford to lose, adjust to the new normal just like Smart Face mask inventors did! Hire the best language translations services and reach a much wider audience in this new normal era, Covid-19 or Corona times!

Content that connects international audiences

In today’s world, content drives sales, marketing, user engagement, and even user experience. Most successful companies have stopped competing on features and now focus on brands, and brands are primarily driven by storytelling.

Did you know!

More than half of the purchase decisions are made before the customer even reaches out to the supplier! That is why, in the content economy, every company is a media company.

Having a translation and localization plan in place is a natural fit within an organization’s digital transformation strategy. Out of the world’s billion residents, just 20% – 1.5 billion – speak English. If you are only producing marketing and product copy in one language, you’re missing out on profitable new customer markets simply by not localizing your content.

 

Do you wish your potential local customers to know about you?

 

If you want your local customers to know about you, first you have to adapt yourself to the language they speak and the perspective they view things. Localization helps you break the linguistic and cultural boundaries, which allows your brand to blend in and then stand out. Hence, connecting to your international audiences with ease.

How important is localization of your marketing content?

Localization is no longer just an option for companies that want to go global; it is now becoming a must, a strategic plan that can help a brand survive abroad. By localizing your website, products or marketing campaigns, you are building a bridge to your target customers and making your brand more memorable in local markets/international audiences. So, here are some key benefits of content localization that are less obvious but also really important;

Market expansion

Localization helps you break the linguistic and cultural boundaries, which allows your brands to blend in and then stand out. It is true that market penetration success depends on other factors such as product, price, place and promotion; however, without the aid of localization, it is more likely that cultural conflicts will block your way before you can step into the market.

Sales growth

By communicating with your customers in their own language and creating mutual understanding, you are building trust and commitment with them. That will make them more comfortable when dealing with you and making a purchase. Research shows that 57% of customers said that to obtain information in their own language is more important than price. Therefore, with localization, you are to set a pace for your competitors.

Customer satisfaction

Localization is not just about translation. It is about thoughtfully refining and adapting the content to suit local culture. Without a careful localization plan, your million-dollar campaign can be turned into something hilarious or even offensive to the local customers. The unwanted effects of a localization fail can cause intensive damages to your brand image. Localization will help you avoid those damages and create appealing user experience for your diversified target customers. It is a way to show your customers that you care about them and truly understand what they need. Therefore, your overall customer conversion will increase significantly.

Risk Reduction

In some countries, certain colors or expression can bear the meaning of bad luck or insult. There are certain risks from cultural conflicts when you go global. Your localization agency can help you stay away from those possible blunders.

Localization acts as a precaution for you to ensure that your business runs smoothly in other country. The investment in localization will benefit you in both short-term and long-term. It would be a big loss if you have to spend money and time to fix the screw-ups caused by the lack of proper localization. That is why the importance of localization cannot be denied.

In conclusion

Remember, at the end of the day, people won’t buy a product if they can’t understand what they’re buying. Seems obvious, right? Investing in localized experiences is a proven way to drive your organization’s global growth. Create content that connects international audiences to your product or services.

How to escape Cyber attacks by 2020!

With the number of cyber-attacks increasing across the globe day by day, businesses are seeking for new ways to ensure the cyber safety of their organizations. One way to double-check that cyber-security is the best it can be; is to seek assistance from companies that specialize in safeguarding systems and data. Regardless of the size of your business, enlisting a cyber-security firm’s help could be your best defense against a potentially devastating system attack or data breach. How about Cyber security localization!

Businesses large and small are at risk. To counteract this threat, companies need to invest in more sophisticated verification technologies, including AI and machine learning algorithms, as well as staff trained to identify the tiny details. However, results can be for sure if these are all fully localized! Cyber security localization solutions can help you strengthen your business security with less incurred.

 

What’s the meaning of Cyber-security!

Cyber-security refers to the practice of defending computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems, networks, and data from malicious attacks. It’s also known as information technology security or electronic information security. The term applies in a variety of contexts, from business to mobile computing, and can be divided into a few common categories, namely:-

  • Network security which refers to the practice of securing a computer network from intruders, whether targeted attackers or opportunistic malware.
  • Application security focuses on keeping software and devices free of threats. A compromised application could provide access to data it’s designed to protect. Successful security begins in the design stage, well before a program or device is deployed.
  • Information security protects the integrity and privacy of data, both in storage and in transit.
  • Operational security includes the processes and decisions for handling and protecting data assets. The permissions users have when accessing a network and the procedures that determine how and where data may be stored or shared all fans under this umbrella.
  • Disaster recovery and business community define how an organization responds to a cyber-security incident or any other event that causes the loss of operations or data. Disaster recovery polices dictate how the organization restores its operations and information to return to the same operating capacity as before the event. Business continuity is the plan the organization falls back on while trying to operate without certain resources.
  • End-user education addresses the most unpredictable cyber-security factor: People. Anyone can accidentally introduce a virus to an otherwise secure by failing to follow good security practices. Teaching users to delete suspicious email attachments, not plug in unidentified USB drives, and various other important lessons is vital for the security of any organization.

Check out the common Cyber-security threats

Along with the increase in the number of cyber-security attacks that are occurring worldwide, the implementation of these attacks has become more sophisticated, meaning that businesses cannot simply count on standard software to ensure that they are protected. Some of the types of cyber-security threats that companies face include:

Phishing: Scammers will use social media or emails to persuade users to click on misleading links and give sensitive information, such as financial data.

Malware: By inadvertently downloading malware, users give access to their computer systems, which cyber-criminals can use as a basis to spy or initiate a virus.

Password theft: When cyber attackers are able to determine the password of a network, they can gain access to a grave amount of important and sensitive information.

Ransomware: With this type of malware, cyber-criminals can lock down a system and encrypt a device, rendering it unusable. To regain access, the user might have to pay a large sum of money to the attacker.

Distributed denial of service (DDoS): By flooding a server with requests from numerous sources, attackers cause the server to crash or slow down considerably.

Considering that half of these attacks are aimed at small businesses! Every company, regardless of their size, should have a localized approached to cyber-security.

Here’s an insight of how Cyber Security Localization can help

Since language and cultural barriers can prevent the user from recognizing a potential cyber-attack, multilingual training and localized products from cyber-security companies are critical to heading off cyber threats. Whether used by a large corporation or an individual, ensuring that the product is understandable to everyone is a vital step toward prevention. Here are some ways that cyber-security firms can ensure that their products and services are used to their full potential:

  • Provide product training in all regions that the company serves. This multilingual approach will give users the information they need without language barriers interfering.
  • Make certain that the users interface resonates with customers in their language. If someone doesn’t understand the symbols or text used to explain the product, then the user will not be able to prevent an impending attack. Understanding what a particular action entails is vital to using the cyber-security system properly.
  • Ensure that any region where the product is used has a localized website that provides important information and delivers the tools necessary for the product.
  • Offer localized instruction documents that include step by step descriptions of how to use the cyber-security product. With the help of localized brochures, user manuals, websites, and videos, employees in each region that your company is located will be able to participate in helping to protect your systems and data.
  • Work with a professional translation services company to make certain that the cyber-security product training and documentation is the best it can possibly be. Cyber-security companies provide a crucial service to their clients, so it is vital that the information is translated and localized properly. One mistake in the language or cultural nuances can make a huge difference for a client, as well as cause future customers not to have confidence in the product.

“2020 will be the year of 5G, bringing with it not only faster speeds and bandwidth capabilities to our mobile devices, but also making them highly coveted targets by DDoS attackers. While mobile devices have always been targeted by financial or personal data thieves, 5G’s increased bandwidth allows attackers to take control over a relatively small number of mobile handsets and unleash a tremendous amount of damage. A potential DDoS attack may be distributed via an innocent-looking app on the Play or App store and an attacker just needs a few hundred installs to create a massive outbreak”-Hagai Shapira, Research Team Lead, SAM

In the final analysis

With the above in mind, every company, especially those that handle sensitive customer information, should have a plan in place to prevent such attacks in each region it serves. Get in touch with a professional translation services company to help you with your Cyber Security Localization Solutions.

Why should you opt for video transcription to impact your campaigns the more?

The idea of needing video transcription sometimes baffles marketers and businesses until they realize; after multiple videos or campaigns, exactly how much they could benefit from having them transcribed. Transcriptions are particularly crucial for longer videos, though it’s important for you to consider leveraging them for all of your video content.

What’s the meaning of transcription and video transcription in particular?

Transcription in particular, according to Merriam Webster, is the act of making a written, printed, or typed copy of words that have been spoken while

Video transcription simply refers to the process of translating your video’s audio into text. Video transcription is done with automatic speech recognition technology, human transcriptionists, or a combination of the two.

The different types of transcription

There are three types of transcription known as verbatim, intelligent and edited transcription. Let’s see in details:

Verbatim:

Every single word or mumble that is recorded is transcribed. Such as mmmm…., hmmmm…, I mean…, I know…, and more. Also even the emotions like laughter, excitement, fear, nervousness in voice or body language are all noted when transcribing.

Intelligent:

This is also called “Smart Transcription” known as an accurate transcription for only the words said in the audio or video excluding the mmmm…, hmmmm…, I mean…, I know…, and more.

Edited:

This transcription type is more of a summary and the transcriber omits sentences without changing the sense/meaning of the audio or video.

The type you require, length, context, and specifications of the audio file can affect the time needed and cost to transcribe the audio or video file.

A brief history of transcription

Transcription is one of the oldest, most ancient forms of documentation; a useful, and often necessary, tool put in practice for centuries. Its origins are in the Latin verb for “to transcribe” (transcribere: trans (over)+ scribere (write)). Beyond being an efficient way to keep track of important information, dictation and transcription have helped to promote further understanding in complicated fields such as from medical and legal transcription to business and government transcription. Still widely used today, transcription has a past rooted deep in history. Transcription as a form of documentation began in ancient times. Scribes as early as 3400 BCE would train in hieroglyphics and scripts in order to become employed in ancient Roman and Egyptian times. 100 years later, children would transcribe their ancient languages onto stone tablets. The written language and ancient historical documentation are made possible by transcription and those committed to transcribing (and duplicating) as much information as possible.

16th & 17th century technology

It’s understood that the invention of the printing press in 1439 led to a decline in the need for scribes, and so led to a decline in transcription for a time. However, it was around this time (or soon after, at least) that the modern English language shorthand was developed by a British physician. Formalizing this shorthand set in stone again the transcriptionist’s (or scribes’) specialty field. Scribes in the 17th century were generally used for manuscripts and other types of literature.

Why video transcription is vital for your campaign

Video transcription improves accessibility

The World Health Organization reports that more than 466 million people in the world have disabling hearing loss. Shouldn’t they be able to access and understand your content, too? Video transcription is one of the best ways to involve every individual. When your video is transcribed, you can download the transcription as an .SRT file to add captions that further boost accessibility. Video transcription also makes it easier to translate your video content into other languages, increasing the potential viewers. Users who speak another language can read a transcript in their preferred language instead of watching the video or while following the transcript while the video plays.

Improves user experience and understanding

Although it’s found-out that most consumers would rather watch a video about a product than read about that product, there are still people who would prefer to read. Video transcripts help you capture both types of audiences.

It lets users skim the content before committing to watching the video.

For those who may be in a sound-sensitive environment (and forgot to bring their earbuds), transcription allows them to consume the video’s content without the use of audio. Transcription also lets users skim the content before committing to watching the video. It can also help website visitors find the right video by searching your website or playlist for a keyword used within the video.

Viewers can use a transcript to follow along with a video, potentially increasing retention of your content. (Most transcriptions include some type of timestamp, which helps reader keep up with the video.) Users also may share the transcript along with, or instead of, your video.

Make consuming your video a great experience, and users are more likely to look to you for similar content.

Helps in Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Including a transcript with your video gives search engines another source of data for indexing your content. Using the transcript, search engines like Google can crawl the full text of your audio or video content, potentially increasing your organic search results. Videos also may be ranked higher in YouTube results if they include a full transcription.

If you have longer transcripts, you can also optimize them for specific keywords you want to rank for. Ideally, you can incorporate keywords into the video script before you actually create and share the video, ensuring that the keywords will be in the finished transcript. A high-quality, searchable video transcript can only benefit your website’s SEO.

Better product value with transcription

If you offer a video as part of a paid product, such as a paid-access webinar, you can automatically increase the value of that product by transcribing the video. You might include the transcription as part of the main product or present it as an add-on option for an additional fee.

Either way, a video transcript can help increase revenue. It can also make the product more appealing to an undecided potential buyer.

Provides accurate and professional outsourcing

Professional video transcription services create an environment that meets your expectations with excellent customer service, timely and accurate transcription and a significant return on investment. However, high-quality transcription also depends on the quality of the audio you provide. To ensure a smooth experience, endeavor to submit audio files with good sound quality. When voices fade in and out, there is static, background noise, low speaking voices and audience members far from the microphone, transcription time is extended, which costs you money.

Transcriptions have multiple uses

Not many companies have time to write brand-new content every single day, which is why re-purposing is a vital technique in content marketing. A high-quality video transcript can be shared on other mediums or used to create other types of content. Depending on the subject of your video, the transcription can also be used to create:

A transcript may also help you create additional videos that elaborate or answer questions about the first video. Use the transcript of the first video to help pull out keywords and structure the script of a follow-up video.

In conclusion

Even if you had video scripts, you should still create video transcriptions. Sending your video files to a professional transcription agency like Translate 4 Africa Ltd is quick, easy, and affordable, and we’ll be able to give you the transcriptions that you need to create and other necessities like the .SRT files, closed captions, and subtitles to help take your content to the next level.

The Top Simple Secrets of Learning a New Language Quickly

Did you know that it’s easy to be multilingual in this day and age? According to language experts any person determined to learn a new language can do so much easier than most people think. True, you may take much more time than native speakers to master it, but you can enchant a beautiful lady, place an order at a restaurant and generally sustain a conversation that can make you new friends and networks.

So what are those simple secrets to learning another language quickly?

First, discipline yourself to spend the first 20 minutes of your day everyday studying a new language. That means you may need to spend on a new dictionary of that language you want to learn. It will help you better if you have a friend who speaks the language you’re trying to learn and ask him always to chat with you in that language and to correct you whenever you make a mistake. Maybe that might be too much work for him, but what are friends for!

Secondly, start by learning the simple words or statements we use in ordinary interactions. For example, if you love pets then you have to first learn what cats or dogs are called in your language of interest. Learn what your favourite dish in that language is called, learn expressions for good morning or good night and make it a point to use them in conversation routinely. With such enthusiasm and commitment, it will not be long before you’re proficient in the new language.

Thirdly, take it easy. Don’t try to learn too much at the same time. One word at a time is the trick. Just like children learning the alphabet, repeat that word or statement again and again until it settles into your memory bank. Before you know it those portions of words will be popping out at the right time during conversations and you will even impress yourself.

In our ICT-driven era, maximize your smart phones and internet connected computers to download apps and tutorials for learning a new language. There are so many and very helpful, believe me. For example, I taught myself to drive a manual car by watching online tutorials on driving a manual car. After watching too many of them, I practiced briefly in my brother’s car and was soon good to go. A word to the wise is enough!

Fourthly, whatever you learn, practice it; put into action; speak it out and soon people will start admiring your new language vocabulary and coming to you to coach them as well.

If you have the financial capacity, then it helps a lot to migrate to the country of the language you want to learn. For example, if you want to learn Swahili it makes pretty much sense to move to Tanzania where Swahili is spoken everywhere. If you want to learn German, move to Berlin.

Last but not least, take the plunge and mingle with groups that speak a concentration of the language you’re trying to learn. For example, if you are a Munyankore trying to learn Luganda, the best place to be where concentrated Luganda is spoken is downtown at St. Balikudembe Market or in kikubo. Go do some business there; watch people speak, listen keenly, and interact with them. I can guarantee that a few months down the road you will be speaking admirable Luganda. Take a look at some of the languages you might want to grasp with the help of translations,

Somali translation services

Yoruba translation Services

Runyankole translation services

Acholi translation services

Malagasy translation services

Wolof translation services

Karimojong translation services

Ma’di translation services

Tigrinya translation services

When all is said and done, only determination to learn the new language and consistent application of the said language in real-life dialogues will get you to the Promised Land of the language of your interest faster than a rocket shooting to the sky. Good luck.