The translator tech is not very far ahead of what we have today.
I would disagree with the translator. On the surface, yes, but it is incredibly far removed from how any of our translation technologies work.
The universal translator works by scanning your mind/brain signals, finding universal constants within it, and then constructs a translation that way. In theory, a novel alien could be parked next to a universal translator, and it would still be possible to translate for them, in the absence of a linguistic database.
I also think the medical tricorder will some day inspire/shape new tech similar to the communicator with cell phones.
It sort of has, but more in the other way, where the devices are inspired off its functions instead of its form. Going off of wikipedia, there’s some speculations that a smartphone might well become our equivalent of a tricorder thanks to the massive amount of sensors that they have in them.
I would disagree with the translator. On the surface, yes, but it is incredibly far removed from how any of our translation technologies work.
The universal translator works by scanning your mind/brain signals, finding universal constants within it, and then constructs a translation that way. In theory, a novel alien could be parked next to a universal translator, and it would still be possible to translate for them, in the absence of a linguistic database.
It sort of has, but more in the other way, where the devices are inspired off its functions instead of its form. Going off of wikipedia, there’s some speculations that a smartphone might well become our equivalent of a tricorder thanks to the massive amount of sensors that they have in them.