How important is technology in the translation industry? Do translation professionals use the internet, computers, etc.?

How important is technology in the translation industry? Do translation professionals use the internet, computers, etc.?

Crucial, and yes. The day of a translation professional slaving away for years on a literary masterpiece is gone. Today’s translation professional who is an interpreter might be on the phone via a Skype connection (i.e. using a computer and the internet) anywhere in the world. A translator might not just use a computer and the internet, but also CAT tools, an online dictionary and glossary, online professional networks and forums, and even participate in virtual conferences and virtual conference calls. He or she might use Google chat or Skype messaging to communicate with clients, and he or she might well invoice a client using PayPal or Moneybookers, as well as keeping the books with Quicken and the like. Finally, a translation professional would probably back up his or her files using cloud storage—and perhaps might even use a cloud translation program.

-By Adriana Tassini

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