Automation For Interpretation

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30602, 19 November 1964, Page 13

Automation For Interpretation

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyrlght)

LONDON, Nov. 17. Pocket computers which could translate conversations in different languages have been forecast by an automation expert.

The expert, Sir Leon Bagrit, who is chairman of ElliottAutomation Ltd., was broadcasting the second of the annual 8.8. C. Reith lectures. He said there was no reason why, technically, an interpreting machine—through which an Englishman and a Chinese could converse in their own languages—should not be constructed “fairly soon.”

Scientists could already convert the human voice into numerical symbols and had some knowledge of how to change these into vocal sounds.

“So the time isn’t very far away when the computer will be able to recognise the pattern of speech and to reproduce artificially a human voice,” Sir Leon Bagrit said. The symbols could repeat the sound in any language with which they could be made compatible. Much of the future for computers depended on rereducing their dimensions, Sir Leon Bagrit said. By 1974 they would be no bigger than a packet of 100 cigarettes.

Sir Leon Bagrit envisaged personal computers which could be plugged into a national computer grid to give individuals almost unlimited imformation. He dismissed as "nonsense” any idea of a thinking machine.

Automation was already aiding medicine, but the computer’s usefulness could be extended to cover tests, allergies and treatments. Doctors’ and nurses’ time could be saved by using automation technology. Perhaps the most far-reach-ing use of the new generation of computers would be retention and communication of information of all sorts within a national, possibly worldwide, information system.

Weather conditions and forecasts could be held in it to provide local computers with information for controlling domestic and industrial heating and cooling plants. Complete air and road traffic situaions may be stored so computers could be instructed to control a car or helicopter safely to its destination.