New devices bridge fiction-reality divide

Once confined to the realms of science fiction, devices that translate in real time are now a reality, thanks to the leaps in artificial intelligence.

iFlytek, a Shenzhen-listed company known for its research in intelligent speech and language technologies, showcased a portable translator and an intelligent recorder at the recent Consumer Electronics Show Asia, that allow people speaking different languages to converse with the aid of handheld devices.

The gadget, which provides real-time translation in 60 languages, including standard Mandarin, also has Chinese dialect translation capability.

Its capability was on view at the Shanghai event. The device aided a Chinese-speaking guest translate into English with less than one-second latency. The company, which claims an accuracy rate of over 98 percent in translations, said it also supports recognition of text on photographs.

According to Lin Yi, the brand director of iFlytek's consumer business unit, some features of AI, including machine learning and neural network - a computer system modeled on the human brain and nervous system - have been applied to the translation model.

"A regular fixture in sci-fi movies, such features have only recently become viable, thanks to the increasing speeds of mobile devices, machine learning, and wireless connection," she said.

The smart recorder features high accuracy voice pick-up and efficient transcription.

The two devices won innovation awards at the three-day event which also hosted an array of consumer electronic devices.

Some 550 companies, including 115 startups, showcased the next-generation innovation at the show, including the latest in AI, 5G and vehicle technology.

The consumer electronics industry today thrives largely due to advanced analytics with insights to support the decision-making process, autonomous business processes as well as AI-powered immersive, conversational and continuous interface, said Neil Wang, president of Frost& Sullivan in China, a research and consulting firm.

He said devices will continue to become more autonomous and get better at assisting consumers. "Consumers will no longer be satisfied with traditional user interfaces. Demand for abstract user interfaces (voice-based, gesture-based) will rise."

This has proven right in the beauty industry, a sector traditionally relying on experience and intuition. Now, you can look into a mirror that provides skin care tips using augmented reality apps.

This is among the latest from Emie Technology Co Ltd - which makes consumer electronic products from electric fans to toothbrushes - which acts like an 'at home, electronic dermatologist', according to the company's general manager Liang Suping.

These intelligent mirrors are designed to analyze your skin through a built-in camera and provide beauty tips and track your progress over time.

"By taking a photograph of your skin, the mirror suggests a 'goal' area to focus on, and provide you with tips related to that goal," Liang said, adding that over 100 such devices are being snapped up on its website during the ongoing summer promotion on a daily basis.

There are other electronic gadgets using AI in a big way. Chinese appliance maker Skyworth has introduced a smart story-telling device dedicated to schoolchildren. The device is able to tailor stories based on the profile of a given user from a vast story pool, thanks to tie-ups with popular audio streaming firms in China.

Local smart speaker forerunner Tmall Genie is taking the smart initiative one step further. On the sidelines of the CES Asia show, developer Alibaba Group struck a partnership with automakers Audi, Renault and Honda to integrate its AI-powered Tmall Genie solution into specific-model vehicles.

The Tmall Genie Auto smart speaker will allow drivers to use voice commands to place orders on Alibaba's online retail platform and buy movie tickets.

In the near future, the speaker will allow drivers to monitor and control smart devices at homes with the help of a Tmall Genie-compatible device, the company said in a statement.

AI is rewriting rules even for the physical retail. China's retailer Suning.com Co is using video cameras and data analysis to know the demographic makeup of customers to make better decisions on advertising, product placement and merchandise mix.

By analyzing video streams in a demonstration booth during the event, video analytics solutions could identify shoppers by their age and gender, providing valuable information about customer profiles and their preferences, said Suning's research and development manager Liu Xuewei.

hewei@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Global 06/25/2019 page3)