The power to interpret unfamiliar languages opens hidden worlds and builds bridges between people -- and other beings as well.
Traditional translators are people who have command of two or more languages and can serve as intermediaries, but modern translators range from electronic gadgets to cyber-translators. Here are a few examples to expand your knowledge of the world of translation innovations.
Implications - With the Internet merging the world into one digital society, it's common for people to stumble upon foreign sites. As a result, many companies are upgrading translation devices. This led to the production of practical apps and translation site services for those requiring the assistance of understanding a language outside their own. The interpretations may not be 100% correct, but it's a working progress well worth building.
37 Translation Innovations
37
Chinglish Languages
The New York Times Chinglish Photos of Shanghai's Butchered English
36
Lost in Translation Signs
The Funniest Engrish Signboards That Actually Exist
35
Vocabulary Translation Websites
Unsuck-It is a Website that Untwists Jangled Jargon
34
Cyborg Translators
NEC Tele Scouter Computer Turns Text into a Retinal Display (UPDATE)
33
Tagging
The Language of the Graffiti Artist
32
The Canine Translator
31
Hand Signal Handbooks
The 'World Gesture Guide' Makes You Fluent in Finger Talk
30
Visual Thesaurus: Innovative New Tool
29
Foreign Communication Tees
The Traveler's Phrasebook T-Shirt Makes Language Barriers Disappear
28
Linguistic Protests
English Professor Ousted from Starbucks for Refusing to Use the Lingo
27
Monumental Language Ads
The Inlingua Language Center Ads are Landmark-Inspired
26
Copier That Translates
Fuji Xerox Prototype
25
Hearing-Impaired Translators
The Deafcommunicator Provides Real-Time Interpretation
24
Avatar Vernacular
Paul Frommer Wants to Make Na'vi an Official Language
23
Translators for Techies
iSpeak Translator for iPods
22
Foreign Language Cardio
Low-Impact Aerobics Help the Japanese Learn English
21
Linguistic Turf Wars
Soda vs Pop Map Settles the Score
20
Audio Translator and Travel Guide
iTRAVL PDA
19
Global Translators on Demand by Phone
18
Sign Language Translators
HandTalk Glove
17
Sign Language Translators
Mac Funamizu Design Helps the Hearing-Impaired Communicate
16
Youth Lingo Translations
The Teen Chat Decoder Tells You What Your Adolescent is Really Saying
15
Multifunctional Translators
SVLT Helps the Blind and Deaf Communicate
14
Gratis Language Learning
ChinesePod Offers Free Chinese Lessons to People of Ireland
13
Internationalized Domain Names
Arabic Internet Addresses Activated, More Languages to Follow
12
Phonetic Video Translations
YouTube Users' Inaccurate Translations Go Viral
11
Modern Translations of Holy Texts
LOLCat Bible Translation Project Says 'Oh Hai' to Jesus
10
Dog Translators
Bowlingual Lets You Decipher Your Dog's Barks
9
Foreign Flashcard Communications
The 'Me No Speak' iPhone Application Breaks Language Barriers
8
Online Human Translators
OneHourTranslation.com Gets Native Speakers to Help You
7
Live Translation Apps
The Pleco Chinese Dictionary Will Have You Saying "Nihao" in No Time
6
Baby Name Translators
'Today Translations' Provides Linguistic Help for Expecting Parents
5
Real-Time Accent Decoders
The Tele Scouter Translates Speech in No Time at All
4
Literary Braille Translators
The Brailect Device is No Work of Fiction
3
Braille Book Readers
The Haptic Reader Concept Brings Basic Books to Life for the Visually Impaire
2
Lip-Reading Computers
New Technology Lets You Read Lips & Identify Languages
1
Slang-Speaking Cash Machines
ATMs in the UK get a Cockney Language Option
Related Ideas
Chinglish Languages
The New York Times Chinglish Photos of Shanghai's Butchered English
Suggestive Gamer T-Shirts
The Controller Shirt Encourages Grabbing
Humorous Misspelled Signs
Engrish.com is Filled With Uncommon English Mistakes
Hot for Hot For Words
Business Cards 2.0
Crafty Selfvertising: Sprint Firsts in Self-Promotion
Lost in Translation Signs
The Funniest Engrish Signboards That Actually Exist
Pro-Anorexia T-Shirts
The Urban Outfitters 'Eat Less' Tee Stirs up Controversy
iPad T-Shirts
Custom Fashion that Spoofs the Apple iPad Includes Lots of Period Jokes
50 Linguistic Leaps
Viral Internet Language Changes and Word Inventions
iPhone Diss Ads
Verizon Droid Phone Mocks Apple Favorite with iDon't Ad
Real Life Pandora Landscapes
Jim Richardson's Photography Inspires Films like Avatar
Misspelled Latin Tattoos
This Misspelled Ancient Language Ink is Too Good
Avatar Toys
Augmented Reality Brings the World of Pandora Home
Time-Traveling Body Painting
Natalia Stahl's 'Chinese Mood' Blends Burlesque & Ancient China
Personalized Avatar Portraits
Mymagicme Will Turn You into a Blue-Skinned Humanoid
Unfortunately-Named Streets
Take a Ride Down Divorce Ct.
30 Viral Internet Memes
From Rick Rolling to 'I Accidentally,' Online Pranks Are Here to Stay
New Decade Designs
James White's Colorful Artwork Has You Looking into the Future
Avatar Depression
P.A.D.D is on the Rise for Movie Watchers
Cyborg Translators
NEC Tele Scouter Computer Turns Text into a Retinal Display (UPDATE)
Gravity-Defying Ads
‘This is a Crazy World' Turns Reality Upside-Down
Custom Facebook Books
The EgoBook Allows you to Reminisce Over Status Updates
Easy Rider iPhone Cases
The iBike Rider Lets Motorcyclists Stay Connected on the Road
Culture-Inspired Fashiontography
Vogue China August 2009 Issue Offers New Take on Chinese Traditio
Hookup Apps
The iPhone AMP Up Before You Score' App Encourages Female Conquests
Spreadsheet Art
The Book of Danielle Aubert Microsoft Excel Artwork is Filled with Pixelated Fun
22 Braille Innovations
Making it Possible for the Blind to See, from Phones to Playboy
Triumphant Street Art Sites
Nysat Website Launches After Group Overcomes Lawsuits
Aphrodisiacal Ads
Oyster-Eating Models in the Jimmy Choo for H&M Ad Campaign
Mobile Phones for Presidents
Custom Obama iPhone Proves There Really is an App for Everything
Fish-Friendly Shelfmates
These 'Halve Bookends' from Gnr8 Combine Novel and Nautical
Tattoo Translator Blogs
The Hanzi Smatter Blog Translates Chinese Tattoos into Their True Meaning
Translating English to English
Maximonline.com Decodes What Office Emails Really Mean
Insightful Packaging Campaigns
Blind Foundation Guerrilla Grocery Ads Highlight Lack of Braille
iPhone Car Starters
The Viper SmartStart Lets You Go Keyless for $500
Parodying iPads
The College Humor iPad Parody Pokes Fun at Apple's Latest Gadget
Fresh Film Festival Ads
75b Designs Film Festival Rotterdam's New Ad Campaign
Conan-Leno Protest Signs
Coco Supporters Sport Conan Love at '30 Rock for Conan' Rally
Massive Diary Memoirs
'My Life Story' Documents Your Memories from Birth to Death
Chinese Triplet Architecture
Tianzi Hotel Has Three Men Towering Over China
Tattoos for the Blind
Braille Ink Offers Another Dimension of Body Design
Social Media Mugs
The Twitter Friends Mug Shows Friends and Family Who You Follow
Real Life Board Games
The New Pictionary Advertisements by Ogilby & Mather are Ageless Fun
Dancing Deaf
‘Music-Toucher' Vibrating Ballet Shoes Let Dancers Feel Music
DIY Printed T-Shirts
Hack a Day Shows You How to Create Your Own Ironic Tees
Insomniac iPhone Apps
Proactive Sleep Alarm Keeps Track of Your Sleep Patterns
Oversized Art Instruments
Chinese Artist Creates World's Largest Paintbrush
28 Translation Innovations
From Dog Translators to Sign Language Translators
Silly Literary Explanations
'The 3 Most Common Uses of Irony' Comic is not a Good Study Guide
Noose Novel Illuminators
The 'Hang Book Lamp' Prevents a Kinked Neck When Reading in Bed
Retro Gadget Protectors
The Etch A Sketch iPhone Cover is the Best Thing Ever
Poorly-Behaved Pooches
Nutri Balance Ads Show What Happens When Dogs Are Unhappy
15 E-Book Innovations
Electronic Reading, From Smartphones to Braille
Nonchalant Social Media Concepts
Facebook's 'Meh' Button Will Point Out Mediocre Ideas
Avatar Suits
Marc Owens Replicates Third-Person Gaming Experience for Real Life
Internet Media Maps
The 2010 Social Network World Map Provides an Outlook on Social Media
Concentrated Caffeine Cartoons
The Fritz-Cola Highly Concentrated Ad Campaign
Hearing-Impaired Translators
The Deafcommunicator Provides Real-Time Interpretation
Foreign Language Cardio
Low-Impact Aerobics Help the Japanese Learn English
Virtual Religious Revivals
1,600 Year Old Codex Sinaiticus Bible Put Online
Coffee Table Decor Books
'Pattern' by Orla Kiely is a Delightful Hardcover of Soft Surfaces
Deceptive Storage Spaces
These Boox Store Storage Boxes Will Fool Any Burglar or Sibling
Hand Sign Clocks
The Robotic Hands Clock Tells Time With Sign Language
Raining Gaming Ads
PS3 Ads Blend Reality and Virtuality
Shanghaitastic Pictorials
Model Alina Has Fun in 'Shanghai Happiness' Photoshoot
Blind Time Tellers
The Braille Wristwatch Makes Telling Time Simpler and Intuitive
Braille Mobile Phones
Seonkeun Park Creates a Mobile for the Visually Impaired
Flush Puppies
Dino The Dog Gets Saved From a Drain Pipe After Being Flushed
Geometric Tribal T-Shirts
Lincoln Mayne Plays With Squares, Circles and Diamonds
Sustainable Street Lights
The Darko Kostevski 'Jupiter' Lamp is a Triple Threat
Multifunctional Translators
SVLT Helps the Blind and Deaf Communicate
Social Media Love Songs
Sit on My Facebook Will Make You Scream Yahoo!
Gratis Language Learning
ChinesePod Offers Free Chinese Lessons to People of Ireland
Professional Nerdterpreters
Michael Rooney Jr. Translates Klingon for a Living
Economic Crisis Humor
'Sad Guys on Trading Floors' Captures the Bright Side of the Credit Crunch
Pooch Personification
Dog's Funny Dream Mimicks That of a Human Reaction
Braille Mobiles
The Universal Phone Designed for the Blind
Waterproof Journals
Transit Issue Nomad Journal Keeps Your Personal Notes Safe from the Elements
Streamed Marriage Proposals
Matt Van Horn Successfully Uses Social Media to Share the Big Moment
Braille Measuring Devices
The Tikk-Tekk Rainbow is Designed for the Blind
Social Site Lingo
Twitter Gains Entry into Dictionary as Both a Verb and Noun
Social Media Coffee Cups
The Facebook Mug Will Help You 'Like' Your Mornings
Urban Pop-Up Books
The JPMorgan Chase Commercial Builds Towards Economic Recovery
Museum-Worthy iPhone Art
David Hockney Creates Masterpieces with Brushes Application
Economic Stimulus Setbacks
Cash for Clunkers Program Suspended After 6 Days
Cussing English Lessons
YouTube Community Laughs at Evil235's Naughty Language Lesson
Phonetic Video Translations
YouTube Users' Inaccurate Translations Go Viral
Forgotten Word Dictionaries
The Non-Word Dictionary is a Safe Haven for Non-OED Certified Words
Friendsourced Surveys
With the QpixL iPhone App You'll Never Make a Decision Alone Again
Vulgar Learning Tactics
TheF*ckingWordOfTheDay.com Teaches Vocab With Coarse Language
Braille Mobile Phones
Zhenwei You's 'B-Touchphone' Gives Technological Sight to the Blind
Modern Translations of Holy Texts
LOLCat Bible Translation Project Says 'Oh Hai' to Jesus
Klingon Rap Remakes
Klenginem Translates Slim Shady for Trekkies
Dog Translators
Bowlingual Lets You Decipher Your Dog's Barks
Online Human Translators
OneHourTranslation.com Gets Native Speakers to Help You
Multicultural McBurger Campaigns
Mcdonald's Swiss Weeks Introduces Three New Burgers
Sight-Aiding Electronics
The Mobile Global Eye is a Vision of Innovation
Spiritual Wealth Lists
Chinese Paper Creates New Kind of Affluence with the ‘Soul Rich List'
Transmedia Hipster Parodies
Jurassic Park Slope Takes Over the City of Brooklyn
Wired Word Searchers
A Digital Pocket Dictionary Camera Helps You Seem Smart
Baby Name Translators
'Today Translations' Provides Linguistic Help for Expecting Parents
Real-Time Accent Decoders
The Tele Scouter Translates Speech in No Time at All
Literary Braille Translators
The Brailect Device is No Work of Fiction
Tweeting in Trekkie
'Tweet in Klingon' Allows Star Trek Fans to Embrace Their Inner Nerd on Twitte
Twitterfied Words
'Thsrs' is an Online Thesaurus Perfect For Social Networking Sites
Braille Book Readers
The Haptic Reader Concept Brings Basic Books to Life for the Visually Impaire
Star Trek Remix Rap
Jean-Luc Picard Stars in His Very Own Space-Aged Music Video
Handheld Subtitles
The AirScript Wireless Translation Device is Perfect for Foreign Movies
Preference-Based Networking
'Getglue' Helps You Find Others With Your Loves and Interests
Humans as Bats
CASBliP Aids the Blind By Using a Sound Map
Emotional Blinding
UofT Research Shows Moods Can Make Eyesight Better or Worse
Slang-Speaking Cash Machines
ATMs in the UK get a Cockney Language Option