Microsoft Demos Real-Time Language Translation Tool for Skype [VIDEO]

At the inaugural Code Conference in Rancho Palos Verdes, Caliornia today, Microsoft’s new CEO Satya Nadella sat down to talk with Re/code’s Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg, where he demonstrated a real-time language translation tool that has been built into Skype. Dubbed as the ‘Skype Translator’, it allows users to have a conversation with someone who speaks a different language in real time.

During the demo, Skype’s corporate vice president Gurdeep Singh Pall, speaking in English, had a conversation with German-speaking Microsoft employee Diana Heinrichs over Skype. Their chat was translated in real-time through speech and text. “It is early days for this technology, but the Star Trek vision for a Universal Translator isn’t a galaxy away, and its potential is every bit as exciting as those Star Trek examples,” Pall wrote on Microsoft’s official blog.

“Skype Translator opens up so many possibilities to make meaningful connections in ways you never could before in education, diplomacy, multilingual families and in business. Imagine in the very near future technology allowing humans to bridge geographic and language boundaries to connect mind to mind and heart to heart in ways never before possible.

In our industry, we often talk about pursuing big, bold dreams, and of how we’re limited only by the power of our imaginations. Skype Translator is one of those endeavors, and I look forward to keeping you apprised of our journey to break down another barrier to human productivity and connection.”

Microsoft claims that Skype Translator will first be available as a Windows 8 beta app before the end of this year. Check out the company’s breakthrough translator in action in the following video: