Talkman
Encyclopedia
Talkman is a program developed by Sony Computer Entertainment
for the Sony
PlayStation Portable
video game console
. It is a voice-activated translation software
application that operates in four languages Japanese
, English
, Korean
, and Chinese (Mandarin).
The name "Talkman" is a reference to Sony's Walkman
line of portable audio products. It was released in Japan on November 17, 2005 and in America on August 5, 2008 (via the Playstation Store
) as Talkman Travel. In America, however, instead of receiving all the languages included in the Japanese version in one package, you have the option to buy a single pack for $5.99 a piece. Available packs are: Paris (French), Rome (Italian), and Tokyo (Japanese).
The software is designed for travelers and entertainment, mostly containing slang
and useful travel phrases. While originally sold in and designed for the Japan
ese market for Japanese users, its translation function operates between all four languageshttp://www.ugo.com/channels/tech/features/talkman/default.asp. In Japan, the software has proven popular with the middle-aged female demographic due to an interest in South Korean products, and Korean-language soap operas and movies; and as a fun English education aid for children http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20060203a4.html.
This product has also been officially released in Hong Kong
with a Traditional Chinese packaging and manual. However, it does not seem that Sony
is manufacturing any more of these for the Hong Kong market and most retailers that are sold out claims that it will no longer be restocked.
Outside of pure translations, Talkman also lets players play games to test their fluency of a language. The program comes with a USB microphone
included. This microphone draws power through two gold-colored contacts on the top of the PSP, one on each side of the mini-USB port. This is uncommon due to the ability for most USB products to draw power through USB. These proprietary contacts are similar to the gold-colored contacts on the bottom-right of the device, which are used for charging.
Note: The Chotto Shot (aka "Go!Cam") has a built-in microphone that also can be used with the Talkman program.
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
for the Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
video game console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
. It is a voice-activated translation software
Machine translation
Machine translation, sometimes referred to by the abbreviation MT is a sub-field of computational linguistics that investigates the use of computer software to translate text or speech from one natural language to another.On a basic...
application that operates in four languages Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Korean
Korean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
, and Chinese (Mandarin).
The name "Talkman" is a reference to Sony's Walkman
Walkman
Walkman is a Sony brand tradename originally used for portable audio cassette, and now used to market Sony's portable audio and video players as well as a line of Sony Ericsson mobile phones...
line of portable audio products. It was released in Japan on November 17, 2005 and in America on August 5, 2008 (via the Playstation Store
PlayStation Store
The PlayStation Store is an online virtual market available to users of Sony's PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable game consoles via the PlayStation Network. The Store offers a range of downloadable content both for purchase and available free of charge. Available content includes full games,...
) as Talkman Travel. In America, however, instead of receiving all the languages included in the Japanese version in one package, you have the option to buy a single pack for $5.99 a piece. Available packs are: Paris (French), Rome (Italian), and Tokyo (Japanese).
The software is designed for travelers and entertainment, mostly containing slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
and useful travel phrases. While originally sold in and designed for the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese market for Japanese users, its translation function operates between all four languageshttp://www.ugo.com/channels/tech/features/talkman/default.asp. In Japan, the software has proven popular with the middle-aged female demographic due to an interest in South Korean products, and Korean-language soap operas and movies; and as a fun English education aid for children http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20060203a4.html.
This product has also been officially released in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
with a Traditional Chinese packaging and manual. However, it does not seem that Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
is manufacturing any more of these for the Hong Kong market and most retailers that are sold out claims that it will no longer be restocked.
Outside of pure translations, Talkman also lets players play games to test their fluency of a language. The program comes with a USB microphone
Microphone
A microphone is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal. In 1877, Emile Berliner invented the first microphone used as a telephone voice transmitter...
included. This microphone draws power through two gold-colored contacts on the top of the PSP, one on each side of the mini-USB port. This is uncommon due to the ability for most USB products to draw power through USB. These proprietary contacts are similar to the gold-colored contacts on the bottom-right of the device, which are used for charging.
Note: The Chotto Shot (aka "Go!Cam") has a built-in microphone that also can be used with the Talkman program.