Google appears to be working on a human-based translation service. The Google Translation Center is now up and running, though not yet functional (you’ll get an “invalid request” if you try to login).
The front page indicates it will allow you to “request, provide, and review translations” for uploaded documents.
“Passionate about bringing content into your language? Browse through Google Translation Center to find open translation requests into your language. Accept translation requests and use Google translation tools to provide quick, high-quality translations,” the site explains.
Users will be able to choose from either professional or volunteer translators, according to the information posted. Philipp Lenssen over at Google Blogoscoped — who first wrote about the discovery just a bit ago — noted that the terms and conditions specify that Google “is not involved with any such dealings” when it comes to “payment and delivery of goods and services” — leaving some as-of-yet unanswered questions as to the payment structure of the service.
