The German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence in Saarbrcken is working on a portable translation device. The first versions of the Verbmobil unit are designed to translate German, English and Japanese, using English as the common bridging language. The aim is to have, after two years, a device that can handle a conversation between two people about a possible date for a meeting. After four years, the goal is to be able to handle the planning of a business trip and a negotation with a sales agent about ordering an item from a catalogue. The Centre hopes to have a full working product within 10 years. The Verbmobil project is funded by the German Ministry for Research and Technology. The Insitute is also planning to collaborate with the ATR Interpreting Telecommunications laboratories in Kyoto.
