Anyone who trusts computer translations can do a simple experiment, the results of which are usually hilarious: entrust the computer with the translation of a text from Italian to English, and then have it translated again from English into Italian. Fun is guaranteed.
Similar difficulties are encountered by software that must respond to voice commands, as in the case of Siri, the personal assistant incorporated into the new iPhone4S. There have been numerous instances where Siri gave irrelevant answers or simply said she didn't understand.
Since October 14 - the day the new iPhone was released in Asia - there have been many complaints users whose English, heavily accented, was not understood by the good Siri. But now Singapore Telecom (Singtel) has run for cover, with a new application, DeF!ND, which understands commands in 'Singlish', a local form of English with words taken from other Asian languages. DeF!ND can decipher accents and recognize names of people, places and culinary dishes specific to the island state.
in 2012 Siri, which currently recognizes only English, French and German, will extend its capabilities to Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Italian and Spanish. But 'Singlish' was not understood, and Singtel was ahead of its time.
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