Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
The explosion of alternative interfaces in new technologies is having a disruptive effect for content creators. They aren't sure which design or even what structure to use for their content. Content traditionally has been text, and when print became digital text, we all adjusted. But nowadays, content more and more frequently is audio, video, notification, augmented reality, or virtual reality, among other formats. Some companies are even experimenting with delivering content on device interfaces via touch and smell. Screens are getting smaller, or disappearing entirely, and wearable computing is just beginning its market expansion. But Language Service Companies (LSCs) localize content. What effect will these new types of content have on our industry? Will there be less content for traditional LSCs to fight over? Is this a disruption, an innovation, or simply a new sub-segment?
Citation preview
Is the Internet of Things
Bad for the Language Industry?
Is the Internet of Things
Bad for the Language Industry?
ALC 2014 Annual Conference | May 18-21
#ALCconf@ALC_US
Chris Carter@CyWhisp
THE DOCUMENT
CONNECTEDWhat is the Internet of Things?
It has many names:• Internet of Things• Internet of Industrial Things• Digital Things• Web of Things• Internet of Everything
When people think of it, they think of things that are “connected”.
CONNECTED
WIRELESS
It also includes things that are wireless.
CONNECTED
WIRELESS
SENSORS
Or sensors. Sensors collect information about the physical world around them and turn that into digital data.
CONNECTED
WIRELESS
SENSORS SMART
Or “smart” things. Smart things use the intelligence of the internet to perform actions faster, better, or even to make choices on their own.
The word smart has been hijacked by many marketing departments, however, to describe things that are simply connected.
INTERNET OF THINGS
All of these make up the ecosystem known as theInternet of Things?
There are four types of devices where we will see user interface / content.
Devices we already know and have. Devices using connectivity in new ways.
Devices we know, but are newly connected. Completely new devices.
50-200 BILLIONconnected things. Today, in 2014, there are less than 9 Billion.
Different researchers estimate by the year 2020, there will be
Most of those things will just be sensing and not have a user interface.
50-200 BILLIONBIG CONTENT
If even only a small percentage of those 200 Billion things has UI, that is still
If you think you are in the language services industry, you are not.
You are in the content industry. If it has content, you can transform it for a different audience.
Gartner predicts by 2020, $300 Billion in direct revenue from IoT.
International Data Corp. predicts by 2020, $9 Trillion in halo effect on entire economy.
I brought a friend to help me show how the Internet of Things (IoT) will impact
the language services industry.
Just an ordinary refrigerator, Fridgie hopes to one day be an internet connected, smart refrigerator.
Just like Fridgie, we will find obstacles on our path into this IoT future.
• Increased machine translation• New file formats and ‘intelligent content’• Smaller word counts• More voice control (no need for UI)
Just like Fridgie, we will find things on this path which we can use – if we’re smart – to get ahead of the competition.
• More content• More transcreation• More cultural consulting• Be first to specialize in IoT
Just like Fridgie, sometimes the challenge is something you brought with you, something inherent to who you already are.
• Most LSPs are behind on machine translation
• Most LSPs are bad at technology and working with digital UI formats
• Most LSPs still use some basic version of TEP, which is seen as the “old” way to do translation
Just like Fridgie, some of the characteristics unique to you are not a shortcoming, but actually a competitive advantage.
• Existing traditional solutions will still be needed
• Know your competitive advantages
• Know your differentiator, USPs
OBSTACLE
ADVANTAGE
SHORTCOMING
LUCKY BREAK
THREAT
STRENGTH
WEAKNESS
OPPORTUNITY
This whole time we’ve really been talking about …
THREAT
STRENGTH
WEAKNESS
OPPORTUNITY
SWOT
… an old-school SWOT analysis.
THREAT
STRENGTH WEAKNESS
OPPORTUNITY
MTNew Formats
Smaller Word CountsVoice Control
More ContentMore Transcreation
More ConsultingSpecialize
MT SkillsLocalization Expertise
“Old Way”
Same Still Needed(Your USP)
Despite the hype, there will be some barriers to adoption of the Internet of Things ecosystem, and it’s going to be messy.
• Change is slow• Technical constraints• Security• Fear (by the general public)• Weak design
A few industries to keep an eye on:
Marketing, Retail, Automotive, Gaming,
Manufacturing, Communications, Healthcare, Security
Thank YouThank You
Chris Carter&
Fridgie
