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State Partners with Google in Developing Translation Program

Daniel Ramirez
/
Flickr

A new program will make state documents more accessible to non-English speakers in Hawai?i.

According to the State Department of Business and Economic Development, one in four Hawai?i residents speak a language other than English.

In order to make government resources more accessible to residents, the State Office of Enterprise Technology Services collaborated with Google to develop a language translation system. It uses a Google Cloud program to translate legislative documents in 80 different languages.

The system will also allow government officials to better communicate with residents.

Michaeal Otsuji is the Service Operations Manager for ETS.

Otsuji says the technology isn't a hundred percent yet, but it is improving and learning daily.

The office plans to implement the app to provide translation services for government websites.

Casey Harlow was an HPR reporter and occasionally filled in as local host of Morning Edition and All Things Considered.
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