NTT Docomo Launches Test for Handwriting Translation Service

Tokyo, Sept. 9 (Jiji Press)--NTT Docomo Inc. <9437> said Wednesday it has started offering a trial of a translation service that recognizes handwriting on displays of smartphones and tablet computers, free of charge. As part of the test, the service is available at information desks at the international terminal of Tokyo International Airport at Haneda until the end of November, the major Japanese mobile phone carrier said. The service offers translations of Japanese to English, French and Korean, and vice versa. From October, the service will also be available for Chinese. It can also recognize illustrations, allowing it to show comprehensive directions by translating Japanese on handwritten maps to foreign languages. The service will initially be available only for Google Inc.'s Android operating system, but NTT Docomo plans to enable the service to work with Apple Inc.'s iOS by December. Japanese expressions that can be translated include those from the Kansai, Hakata and Tsugaru dialects, as well as ones used only by young girls or samurai. Japan expects an increasing number of foreign visitors going into the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. END