Soldiers Get Help From The iPod
10.12.07 - 03:02pm
Soldiers in Iraq are getting some help from nothing else other than the trusty little iPod by putting it to use as much more than just a music player. They are now using it similar to a translator.
With an new program called VCommunicator that can be hooked up to the iPod American soldiers can speak in Arabic without knowing the language. Say if they are guarding a checkpoint and need an Iraqi to get out of the car and let it be searched. They can simply look up “Vehicle Checkpoint” in the mission library on their iPod and a list of phrases will show up such as “we need to search your vehicle.” The soldier can then either have the iPod say the phrase to the person in Arabic through an attached speaker, or they can sound out the phrase shown in phonetics. They can also have the iPod list the phrase in Arabic and let the person read it. A primer on the right even shows them the proper gestures to make when saying the phrase.
The Vcom is a one way translator - meaning the Iraqi can’t speak into it and have it translated. While there is a Phrasalator translator that does work both ways it is still rather large and clunky and doesn’t work well for soldiers who have to be ready to move quickly. Also the Vcom allows the soldier to stand back rather than have to be up close to capture the Iraqi’s voice.
Ernie Bright, Vcom operations manager says there is about 160 Vcom-equipped iPods currently out with soldiers in Iraq located with the 10th Mountain Division.
It incorporates about 300 vocabulary words and 400 phrases in Arabic and Kurdish. Pashto and Dari dictionaries will be added soon, as well as a Nano compatible version.
Speak Your Peace