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Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 13:16:58 -0500
From: David Sangurima <sangu@harvard.edu>
Subject: Web Translations: Altavista's New Service
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[ Posted to LASPAU-L. A worthwhile development from one of the best
Internet indexes, Altavista. ]
DIGITAL ANNOUNCES FIRST INTERNET TRANSLATION CAPABILITY
PRESS RELEASE
MAYNARD, Mass., December 9, 1997
Digital Equipment Corporation today announced it has broken the
Internet language barrier, with the first European language
translation service for Web content. For the first time, non-English
speaking Web surfers can translate information on the predominantly
English speaking Web in real time. The new free service, provided on
Digital's AltaVista Search service, also gives English-only Web
surfers the ability to understand information in five of the world's
most popular languages.
"We are launching this technology as a global experiment and we
invite our 12 million monthly users to test drive this breakthrough
technology for the Web," said Louis Monier, director of technology for
Digital's AltaVista Search service. "For the first time, users will
be able to understand, in real-time, Web sites written in other
languages. With 70 percent of the Web pages written in English, our
technology provides access to a world of information to a greater
population."
A test version of the technology that provides real-time language
translation capabilities is now available on the AltaVista Search
site (http://altavista.digital.com). The new technology allows users
to easily search, retrieve and translate Web search results from:
- Spanish to English, English to Spanish
- French to English, English to French
- German to English, English to German
- Portuguese to English, English to Portuguese
- Italian to English, English to Italian
Instant Access to Business-Critical Information
Through a technology partnership with SYSTRAN Corporation, a pioneer
of automatic language translation technology, AltaVista has access to
SYSTRAN's tested multilingual dictionaries, containing more than 2.5
million terms and a wide range of vocabulary and professional
specialties. The AltaVista Web Translation Service provides nearly
complete translation results, equipping the end-user with a greater
comprehension of foreign information. With the new technology, users
from around the world will have access to:
Fully automatic translation of newspaper articles posted on the
Internet in Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese; Worldwide
tourist information and entertainment. Business travelers will have a
free service to handle translation of train schedules and local
events anywhere in the world; Translation of almost any type of
research, including academic, marketing and health research, and
Information from divisions of multinational corporations that operate
in different countries.
As this technology matures, it may become unnecessary to offer Web
sites in multiple languages.
Versatile and Easy-to-Use
With a click of the mouse, users can instantly translate a search
query, Web page or section of text, such as an email, by cutting and
pasting the text. Users can also translate their own query and send
the translation to the search engine. The technology works best when
the text is grammatically correct and does not use too many idioms,
however, users can usually understand the meaning of even a poorly
written document. About AltaVista Search Network
Digital's fast and powerful AltaVista Search Network is the premier
solution for locating information in all concerns on the Internet.
One of the top destination sites on the Web, AltaVista has won
numerous awards worldwide for its Internet innovation and advanced
technology. The AltaVista Search Network's flagship site is located at
http://altavista.digital.com. SYSTRAN Corporation, headquartered in
Soisy-sous-Montmorency, France with offices in La Jolla, CA, in the
U.S., is a leader in machine translation of human languages by
computer. SYSTRAN has been continually expanding its language
translation techniques for more than 20 years. SYSTRAN provides
translators with an unparalleled aid to translation ease, speed, and
accuracy. Digital Equipment Corporation recognized for product and
service excellence is a leading supplier of high-performance,
Web-based computing solutions, which help enterprises compete in the
global marketplace. Digital gives its customers a winning Internet
advantage through a comprehensive portfolio of Internet solutions
based on award-winning systems, advanced through networking
infrastructure, innovative software, and industry applications -
including those from its business partners. The expertise and
experience of Digital employees help customers plan, design,
implement, manage and support Internet solutions in countries
throughout the world. For the latest company information, visit
Digital on the World Wide Web at http://www.digital.com.
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