KEEP CALM and CARRY ON Part II - Video Live Transcription (Beta)

About a month ago, we launched our first beta (Translated Machine Speech) during this COVID-19 period. Barely a month passed, we are at it again! This time, our beta is Video Live Transcription. This is done while delivering video via live-streaming in high definition.

Hang on… you might think. Isn’t this been done before? The answer would be yes. We have probably experienced some form of live transcribing before on TV or on video conferencing platforms. BUT doing this for a live video event on a live-stream is a totally different matter.

Those who can deliver this is limited a handful of broadcasters with specialized equipment. Also, if budget is not a problem, one can even get a team of human transcribers to provide live captions. However, this also means it’s expensive and not exactly scalable. That’s the reason why we don’t see live transcribing much at all on broadcast or live-streaming.

Just ask anyone in broadcast, they would appreciate the difficulties in delivering a service like this. Getting the live transcription is one thing, but getting the live caption or subtitles in sync with the video and audio feed is a totally thing.

Providing live captions has the following benefits:

• Improves Accessibility - especially for hearing-impaired. Making your event more inclusive.

• Increases Engagement - provide better comprehension of what is said

• Improves Comprehension - longer view times and more interaction with your brand

So this is what this beta is about. It is to provide these benefits with a simple and highly affordable video live transcription service along with your live-stream.

If you this might be useful to you, please write to me! Or forward this to someone whom you think might be useful. Please note that my COVID-19 message applies. 

Stay indoors! Stay safe! Stay healthy! But most importantly, stay positive!

Yours sincerely,

Alex Chan
CEO, Babbobox

KEEP CALM and CARRY ON - Translated Machine Speech (Beta)

What a time to launch a beta! Right in the middle of a lock-down from a global pandemic. Even while we are all indoors grappling and making adjustments to the current situation, we need to live and work as normally as we can. Our team had a long chat about this and decided that we must press on, including innovation. 

The objective of this beta is rather simple - To convert a video into multiple languages using machine speech. 

Perhaps you have read my COVID-19 message a couple of weeks ago, here's the short version in Hindi (with machine speech). Or you can listen to the same message in 9 different languages HERE

The video is based on my original English version, but I have no idea how accurate it is since I don't understand Hindi. However, to improve accuracy, users can edit both the original and target language text before finalizing the audio. 

There is a story to this beta. The idea came from a client about a year ago. They needed to overcome the language barrier so to spread their message to different countries and communities. While subtitling helps, but it's just not the same as speech. We were too engaged with other work then to do anything about it, but it has always been on the back of my mind. So fast forward one year, the beta is born. 

Translated Machine Speech is available in 45 languages. Some languages are available in both male and female voices. 

We think this can solve some real world problems. It is particularly useful for global engagements, speeches, announcements, lessons, training, sermons, news, etc. But we are limited by what we know. Thus, we would love to work with some real world scenarios and shape this into something useful. 

If you can think of a scenario, please write to me! Or forward this to someone whom you think might be useful. Please note that my COVID-19 message applies. 

Stay indoors! Stay safe! Stay healthy! But most importantly, stay positive!

Yours sincerely,

Alex Chan
CEO, Babbobox

Our response to COVID-19. A message from CEO Alex Chan

Dear all,

These are extra-ordinary times. Schools closed, businesses shut, events cancelled, classes cut, etc. because of COVID-19. Businesses globally are going to be affected... and I fear many wouldn't survive this crisis.

I'm just going to put it out here. If you, or anyone you know, need a Video AI platform like Videospace (www.videospace.co) to keep your business going, write to us HERE.

We can't make it free, but we promise to make it as close to cost as possible. In particular, if you are an SMB, event organiser, in training/teaching, NGO, etc. MNCs need not apply because it’s the small businesses that are most at risk.

In times like this... I believe we need to help each other to ride this out. Business is an eco-system, no one wins by being the last one standing. I much rather we stand together till the end of this crisis.

I wish you good health, remain resilient, keep positive, and most important of all, stay safe. Let’s ride this one out!

Yours sincerely,

Alex Chan

CEO