The latest translation experiment by Google will render images of foreign-language signs and texts into English.

The new tool, unveiled by the internet giant last week, is designed to help tourists with tasks such as reading restaurant menus and traffic signs.

It builds on the Google Goggles smartphone application, which lets internet users search the web by photographing objects, rather than typing in queries. The new extension will let them photograph foreign text to receive a translation.

The program is still in its early stages, but the prototype can translate German into English.

"Imagine being in a foreign country staring at a restaurant menu you can't understand, a waiter impatiently tapping his foot at your table side," said Google marketer Andrew Gomez, as he demonstrated the product at Mobile World Congress last week. "You, a vegetarian, have no idea whether you're about to order spaghetti with meatballs or veggie pesto. What would you do?

"Eventually you might be able to take out your mobile phone, snap a photo with Google Goggles, and instantly view that menu translated into your language."

He told the conference his demonstration showed "just how powerful a smartphone can be when it's connected to our translation technologies."

Google are leading the way in web-based translation technologies. Google Translate now enables real-time translation to and from over 50 languages.

In January, it worked with a US university to add the French-based Haitian Creole to its database in order to help the rescue effort in earthquake-stricken Haiti.

20 February 2010