HOW DO YOU SAY THAT IN GERMAN?
New document translation service on CompuServe

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 28, 1995 -- Trying to book hotel reservations in
Germany? Tracing ancestors who lived in France? Doing business in Spain?
For these and other multilingual communication needs, CompuServe has the
answer. The CompuServe Information Service now offers a fast, convenient
and low-cost way to translate letters, articles, mail messages or business
documents. The CompuServe Document Translation Service offers electronic
translation between English and French, English and German or English and
Spanish. Members can choose one of two levels of service: unedited machine
translation or translation that includes human post-editing for a greater
level of accuracy. CompuServe is the only online information service using
this technology to make the world a smaller and friendlier place.

"Machine translation, the translation of texts using computers, is one of
the oldest and most challenging areas of artificial intelligence
research," said Mary Flanagan, Ph.D., CompuServe's group leader for
Natural Language Technologies. "Translation by computer is difficult
because human language is often complex and ambiguous. Many words and
phrases can have different meanings depending on their context.

"The advantages of machine translation are speed and relative cost,"
Flanagan continued. " Machine translation usually can produce an
understandable rough draft in a very short time. For those who want a more
exact translation, we offer the human post-editing process."

The service offers a front-end with menus in each of the four languages,
accessed by any of four GO commands (GO TRANSLATE, GO TRADUIRE, GO
TRADUCIR or GO UBERSETZEN). The cost for unedited machine translations is
three cents per word. For translation that includes human editing, the
cost is 10 cents per word, with a $50 minimum. To use the service, members
must submit electronically files in either Text or Rich Text (RTF)
formats. Translated documents are delivered to the member's CompuServe
mailbox. Unedited translations are often returned within minutes.

Human translation editing services are provided by Linguistic Systems, Inc.
of Cambridge, Mass. In August 1994 CompuServe introduced machine
translation, first used to translate electronic communication among
members online. CompuServe is the world's online global information
service, with members in more than 150 countries, local billing and
support around the world, and a wealth of local-language content and
information. The CompuServe Information Manager software is available in
four languages: English, Spanish, French and German.

The CompuServe Information Service continues to be the world's most
successful and most popular online service, with 3.4 million members
accessing its 3,000 services from 150 countries. The undisputed industry
leader in innovation, the service offers global email, the industry's
first CD-ROM supplement, libraries of free software, 28.8 kbps access and
worldwide Internet services. CompuServe is recognized globally for its
international membership and diverse content. For a free introductory
CompuServe membership, call 800-524-3388 and ask for representative number
664, or send an email message to USAINFO@CompuServe.com. Or access
CompuServe's home page on the World Wide Web (http://www.compuserve.com).

In addition to the CompuServe Information Service, CompuServe offers
networking, electronic mail and business information services to major
corporations worldwide. CompuServe is an H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) company.

CompuServe
5000 Arlington Centre Blvd
PO Box 20212
Columbus, OH 43220
614-457-8600
 
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