Vocre will soon be releasing version 2.0 of its app to the iOS App Store and with it comes what I consider a revolutionary new feature: live language translation during video calls. It’s one of those futuristic things you think about as a child and it will soon be accessible to anyone with an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
What’s live translation? Let’s say you went on a trip to Italy and you made some new friends. You’d like to keep in touch, but it’s hard when you both speak different languages. The huge barrier we’ve all been forced to deal with for so long prevents long-distance relationships from thriving. Launch your Vocre app and choose the person you want to speak to. A video call commences. Tap the translate button, speak whatever is on your mind, and a robot on the other end will translate what you say in the other person’s language.
Boom. Mind blown.
As soon as I found out about this app, I immediately thought of the Pomegranate phone. It’s a fake smartphone that went viral a few years ago because it could brew coffee, act as a razor, and yes, do live translation. The demonstration used two people speaking in person, but it’s the same idea. The Pomegranate was actually a promotional campaign for tourism in Nova Scotia, but the fact that such a concept once considered impossible now exists is nothing short of amazing.
Vocre 2.0 is in beta, but meanwhile you can take a look at the current version which supports voice translation without any live video.