Poll: Would you be interested in a CAT tool for mobile devices? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Would you be interested in a CAT tool for mobile devices?".
This poll was originally submitted by Châu Nguyễn. View the poll results »
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I have been working as a translator, for many years, without using a CAT tool and it has never been a problem. When I started out there were no computers, no Internet, all I had was a typing machine, paper, dictionaries, and my brain. The usefulness of a CAT tool depends on what texts you translate and whether they are similar to previous texts of the same type and for the same client. So far I haven’t found a CAT tool simple enough and user-friendly enough for my needs. Most of my customers d... See more I have been working as a translator, for many years, without using a CAT tool and it has never been a problem. When I started out there were no computers, no Internet, all I had was a typing machine, paper, dictionaries, and my brain. The usefulness of a CAT tool depends on what texts you translate and whether they are similar to previous texts of the same type and for the same client. So far I haven’t found a CAT tool simple enough and user-friendly enough for my needs. Most of my customers do not care how I work and what tools I use. They want to have their translations done - that's all they're interested in. Of course, some potential clients (mostly agencies) will insist on a CAT tool, but at this stage of my career I just tell them "Sorry, I can't do it" and they'll find somebody else… ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:10
Member (2008)
Italian to English
Teresa Borges wrote:
..... my customers do not care how I work and what tools I use. They want to have their translations done
Precisely. As long as my plumber shows up to fix the heating, and uses whatever tools he needs, it makes no difference to me.
[Edited at 2021-07-25 10:36 GMT]
| | | | Michael Harris 
Germany
Local time: 18:10
Member (2006)
German to English
Is a laptop also a mobile device?
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| No, I do translations on my PC | Jul 25, 2021 |
When I translate, I need a big screen where I can see as much information as possible, and I need a full keyboard where I can not only comfortably type but also enter special characters with the least possible hassle. I need function keys to access special functions and tags, and other keyboard shortcuts for common tasks. I need a working environment where I can work comfortably for many hours and deal with high amounts of source text and all kinds of document formats. I don't think that all thi... See more When I translate, I need a big screen where I can see as much information as possible, and I need a full keyboard where I can not only comfortably type but also enter special characters with the least possible hassle. I need function keys to access special functions and tags, and other keyboard shortcuts for common tasks. I need a working environment where I can work comfortably for many hours and deal with high amounts of source text and all kinds of document formats. I don't think that all this will be available on mobile devices anytime soon. Give me a mobile device that includes a beamer and some kind of pro input device before considering to put a CAT on it. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I would not use a CAT on any small mobile device | Jul 25, 2021 |
Michael Harris wrote:
Is a laptop also a mobile device?
I count a laptop as a full-scale computer, and use my CAT on it, though not often these days.
What is critical for me is the screen size and having a full-scale keyboard.
My laptop is large, precisely because I need a large screen, or I simply cannot see what I am doing when working with the screen divided up for CAT use into source, target, TM results and glossary. I have to see several segments to see the context, and if you can't use the concordance and glossary, then there is not much point in using a CAT!
I personally dislike touch screens, and trying to work a CAT on one would be my idea of a nightmare.
| | | | | Missing answer | Jul 26, 2021 |
Where is the answer, "No, I do not use CAT tools at all"?
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 18:10
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
Kay-Viktor Stegemann wrote:
Give me a mobile device that includes a [digital projector] and some kind of ... input device before considering to put a CAT on it.
For me, whether I would consider a CAT tool on a mobile device would depend on whether it can be used with a separate keyboard and mouse and preferably also a separate screen. Screen size is important, but I suppose it would theoretically be possible to design a useful CAT tool for a small screen, as long as the user is able to manipulate what he sees with the input devices (keyboard, mouse, touch screen) easily. At the same time, many of the CAT tool's functions would have to be useful even if the user is using only his phone and typing with his thumbs while waiting for the bus.
Although we don't always appreciate it (i.e. like it), the fact is that even full-screen web-based and offline CAT tools do use tabbed interfaces to save on screen real estate (i.e. they hide certain information behind other information and then the user has to specifically select a tab to see the other information each time), so it would not be odd for a mobile CAT tool to do the same.
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Mario Freitas
Brazil
Local time: 14:10
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| Mobile vs. Work | Jul 26, 2021 |
Mobile devices are excellent to receive messages and communicate with clients when you're away from your office. Using them to work, however, is entirely unfeasible. A CAT tool for mobile devices is useless, IMO.
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