Comments on: Universal translator a possibility? http://futurismic.com/2008/04/21/universal-translator-a-possibility/ Presenting the fact and fiction of tomorrow since 2001 Sat, 19 May 2012 23:03:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Edward Willett http://futurismic.com/2008/04/21/universal-translator-a-possibility/comment-page-1/#comment-14140 Edward Willett Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:15:57 +0000 http://futurismic.com/2008/04/21/universal-translator-a-possibility/#comment-14140 Paul, Oh, I'd forgotten they called it that. That makes more sense. Ayush, The Bible contains something similar, of course: on the Day of Pentecost after Jesus' resurrection, after the Holy Spirit descends on the apostles, they start talking to the crowds and everyone hears them in their own language. It's God as universal translator. I wonder if that theme crops up in other religions and myths? Paul,

Oh, I’d forgotten they called it that. That makes more sense.

Ayush,

The Bible contains something similar, of course: on the Day of Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection, after the Holy Spirit descends on the apostles, they start talking to the crowds and everyone hears them in their own language. It’s God as universal translator. I wonder if that theme crops up in other religions and myths?

]]> By: Paul Raven http://futurismic.com/2008/04/21/universal-translator-a-possibility/comment-page-1/#comment-14083 Paul Raven Tue, 22 Apr 2008 07:00:25 +0000 http://futurismic.com/2008/04/21/universal-translator-a-possibility/#comment-14083 Ed: I suspect Pete refers to <a href="http://babelfish.altavista.com/" rel="nofollow">Altavista's Babelfish translation engine</a> ... though in its defence I'd say its not bad considering it's a free web-based service. Ayush: thanks for sharing! I'm a sucker for polytheistic myths, and now I'll have to go read up on Jainism when I next have a spare moment! Have you read <i>River Of Gods</i> by Ian McDonald? Ed: I suspect Pete refers to Altavista’s Babelfish translation engine … though in its defence I’d say its not bad considering it’s a free web-based service.

Ayush: thanks for sharing! I’m a sucker for polytheistic myths, and now I’ll have to go read up on Jainism when I next have a spare moment! Have you read River Of Gods by Ian McDonald?

]]> By: ayush http://futurismic.com/2008/04/21/universal-translator-a-possibility/comment-page-1/#comment-14081 ayush Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:56:56 +0000 http://futurismic.com/2008/04/21/universal-translator-a-possibility/#comment-14081 well.. sometimes it amazes me how we seem to coming a full circle. I'm an indian, and for those who dont know, we guys come with an endless baggage of stories, myths and folklores.. all of them more or less deep rooted in numerous religions.. One wonders how people actually used to survive in those days without such technological advancements.. some of my friends take pride in terming them as pre-historic geeks.. but the term seems to create a respect of its own now.. if one takes the pains of going through some of these stories, you realise that technology is infact becoming a part of us, an extension of our living self. for eg. in Jainism, there's a phenomen called Jinvaani(sermon, if you want me to objectify it), which the god says after years of penance, just before he attains moksha(liberation). Now there are a lot of creatures who end up hearing it.. ranging from animals, to insects, birds and humans.. the myth is that each creature hears it in its own language.. well.. talking of a universal translator that is.. well.. sometimes it amazes me how we seem to coming a full circle. I’m an indian, and for those who dont know, we guys come with an endless baggage of stories, myths and folklores.. all of them more or less deep rooted in numerous religions.. One wonders how people actually used to survive in those days without such technological advancements.. some of my friends take pride in terming them as pre-historic geeks.. but the term seems to create a respect of its own now.. if one takes the pains of going through some of these stories, you realise that technology is infact becoming a part of us, an extension of our living self. for eg. in Jainism, there’s a phenomen called Jinvaani(sermon, if you want me to objectify it), which the god says after years of penance, just before he attains moksha(liberation). Now there are a lot of creatures who end up hearing it.. ranging from animals, to insects, birds and humans.. the myth is that each creature hears it in its own language.. well.. talking of a universal translator that is..

]]> By: Edward Willett http://futurismic.com/2008/04/21/universal-translator-a-possibility/comment-page-1/#comment-14080 Edward Willett Tue, 22 Apr 2008 02:56:40 +0000 http://futurismic.com/2008/04/21/universal-translator-a-possibility/#comment-14080 Pete, I suspect you're right, since I'm not at all sure what you're trying to communicate right now. To what, exactly, should "babelfish" be linked to? Pete,

I suspect you’re right, since I’m not at all sure what you’re trying to communicate right now. To what, exactly, should “babelfish” be linked to?

]]> By: pete http://futurismic.com/2008/04/21/universal-translator-a-possibility/comment-page-1/#comment-14078 pete Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:33:37 +0000 http://futurismic.com/2008/04/21/universal-translator-a-possibility/#comment-14078 i notice you didn't make "babelfish" a hotlink. my point? we can't even translate human languages half decently, let alone dolphins or - yeah, right - aliens. i notice you didn’t make “babelfish” a hotlink. my point? we can’t even translate human languages half decently, let alone dolphins or – yeah, right – aliens.

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