The rosetta wig

19 December 2013 By John Foley Follow @johnsfoley

The mythical “universal speech translator” is close to being realised. Even if a truly perfect device remains years away, anything that erodes language barriers could boost global trade, tourism and investment. One day, watch out for wearable devices that also read body language.

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Baidu, the Chinese search engine, has struck a deal with video streaming site Viki that would bring foreign television shows to Chinese viewers, and vice versa.

Viki combines video with subtitles sourced from a global group of volunteer translators, who number in the “tens of thousands”, according to the company’s founder, Razmig Hovaghimian. The Singapore-based company was acquired by Japanese online retailer Rakuten in September.

The deal would make available licenced shows from Turner and Cartoon Network, including the Steven Spielberg-produced “Falling Skies”.

Baidu offers video through its iQiyi platform. It acquired streaming rival PPS for $370 million in May.

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