Translation apps are very popular for people visiting foreign lands. With only internet access and a tap of the finger you can convey “I swallowed a june bug” in any number of languages like Spanish (Me tragué un error junio) and Hatian Creole (Mwen vale yon ensèk mwa Jen). I’m pretty sure those are both wrong, but still better than I could do by myself with no knowledge of either language.

Now Yamaha has brought the translation app beyond the boundaries of humanity and into the realm of the machine with their engine revving translation app, RevTranslator. As the name suggests, this app will listen to an engine and deliver its message in Japanese.

We wanted to try out this new app, but the entire staff of RocketNews24 is actually Amish (by pure coincidence) meaning none of us own motorbikes or cars. Instead we will use this app for an even more spectacular purpose and translate the engine revs of some of the most famous cars to ever grace film and televisions via YouTube clips like our Amish forefathers before us have.

Herbie (The Love Bug)

Herbie always exuded personality to the point that even though this ‘62 Volkswagen Beetle couldn’t use words, we could all know exactly where it was coming from. But what if Herbie were freed from its lack of verbal communication? Tell us RevTranslator!

▼ “When it’s cloudy, you should think about fun things.”

▼ “If love and courage is all it takes to change the world, maybe you don’t need power like mine.”

▼ “Are you seriously finished? Heartless…”

I got to say – optimistic, a little smug, and emotional – these all seem like character traits of good old Herby. Yamaha might really be onto something with this.

The General Lee (Dukes of Hazzard)

This ’69 Dodge Charger served the Duke Boys reliably through countless countryside car chases with the cops. But was its heart really into all those crazy jumps? Let’s find out.

▼ “To keep up with the bustle of the city, you have to go out into it.”

▼ “Forget everything, maybe it’s an illusion.”

▼ “Come on, press the accelerator of the mind.”

This one seemed way off with the whole urban life commentary, and those last two comments hardly sound like the homespun wisdom of the Hazzard County heartland.

KITT (Knight Rider)

Alright technically, KITT could speak. However, we have to assume car to human communication technology has made some great strides since the 1980s. So let’s see if the “real KITT” has even more dry wit and refined manner than his crudely designed and decades old voice box suggested.

▼ “Hey hey! You’re slow today.”

▼ “I think I’m getting homesick. I’ve been thinking about my hometown.”

▼ “Hey! Wanna go searching for rainbows?”

Hmm, then again, the auto industry had suffered a lot of hits since that time. Maybe, vehicle communication technology suffered a severe setback and is only now beginning to move forward again.

Overall, my time with RevTranslator was disappointing. I tried getting translations of many other cars’ engines like Mach-5, Christine, and the original Ford Lincoln Batmobile but none of them worked. That being said, this app seemed more designed for motorbikes or at the very least real life cars rather than YouTube clips.

The app is free and pretty easy to use. You just select a setting and push the big “translate button.” Then hope for the best. Each translation also earns point for little collectables in the app. It’s said that there are over a million possible messages your engine can make and it can change depending on the time and weather.

So if you want to hear what your engine is saying, download RevTranslator for your iPhone or Android device. I’ll repeat that for our Zulu speaking readers: “Ngakho uma ufuna ukuzwa lokho injini yakho ethi ngempela, download RevTranslator for iPhone yakho noma idivayisi ye-Android.”

Source: RevTranslator
Original article by Mr. Sato
Videos: YouTube – JUANJO CORREDOR, SuperPCGam3r, Jake Drew
[ Read in Japanese ]