Robotranslation
I know this is unlikely to happen soon if ever, but what we really need is a translator that can translate at one time traditional communication and slang/netisms for any given language. Every language has the equivilent of "OIC" and "BRB," "tho," and so forth. I used to get IMs from customers every day, however I've been deliberately letting business go to wrack and ruin so it isn't much of an issue for me, but for SL people doing customer service, as well as ordinary people meeting strangers or attempting to help someone, it can be difficult as a robotranslator (any I've used) runs right over slang.

I can figure out the bastardised words if it's a familiar language like French (not that I am any good at it now but I used to be able to read it easily and speak it to a degree back a thousand years ago) or Spanish, but I'm not able to do much with, say Portugese. I just got an IM in Portugese that I Googlerobotranslated and although I can sort of see a faint shimmering haze the meaning is not clear. /me hopes it's a case of mistaken identity as I dunno WTF she's on about.

Labels: Adventures in IM