New Microsoft Software Translates Your Actual Voice Into Foreign Languages

Posted on March 12, 2012

Microsoft unveiled several new technologies at TechFest 2012 including realistic avatars and a wearable projector that project multitouch interfaces. Another new technology from Microsoft, which may the most innovative, is technology that can translate a person's voice into up to 26 languages. The technology does not translate a person's voice into a synthesized voice, but uses a voice close to the speaker's voice. Frank Soong demonstrated the text-to-speech (TTS) systems at TechFest 2012.

These video clips show how the voice of Craig Mundie, Microsoft's chief research and strategy officer, was translated from English into Mandarin using his own voice by Microsoft's software. Microsoft used a 3D talking head of Craig Mundie for the demo. You can still hear some of a computer-like voice with Microsoft's software, but it is much better than the synthesized computerized voice you hear with services like NOAA Weather Radio. The ability to instantly have your voice translated into other languages would be very useful. Take a look:







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