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An idea for Google or Meebo: IM + Translation = International Nirvana

If you read this and turn it into some kind of acquisition-worthy business, save a slice of the pie for me, OK?

Anyway: quick and simple - follow with me:

1. You know how you can translate a string of text (or a web page) via Google or BabelFish, right?
2. Well… messages in an IM conversation are strings of text.
3. If you can get a web translation service to work fast enough (Google should be able to make this happen if anyone can), then you can translate an IM conversation in REAL TIME.

That is to say, imagine the following usage scenario:

1. Set your language in your profile. In my case “English.”
2. If you’re speaking to someone who’s profile is set in different language (Spanish), the IM software picks that up.
3. The software then translates each side of the conversation into the correct language so that each participant sees the other’s messages in their native tongue. My English gets translated into Spanish, their Spanish into English.
4. This is all transparent: you don’t even see the untranslated messages unless you choose too. As far as you can tell, you’re talking to someone that speaks English.

Ok, so online translators are notoriously quirky in their translations: so be it. If speed can be addressed such that the process doesn’t add too much lag, I could see this being a great tool for business, and for generally furthering conversations across borders & cultures.

Personally, I’d see a natural home for this in Meebo: they’re the greatest innovators in the IM space in my eyes. They’d need access to a fast, scalable, and low cost translation API, however. Google - while not on the edge of the market - has the necessary infrastructure pieces ready to go (GTalk, and their translator), the resources to do it, and the corporate chutzpah to try it regardless of business-case shakiness.

So: what’s your take - is there something to this? Has it been done already?

In other news, AltaVista still exists! Who knew?

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