Uber, the company widely known as the leader in ride-sharing technologies, is now adding more multi-language support in a country that has increasingly become more polyglot despite its geographical isolation.
With the understanding that many of America’s Google drivers do not speak English as their first language, the company is apparently building a language translation tool right into its central mobile application.
New tech reports like this one at CNet show the feature is coming out today in an app update. The change will reportedly allow the Uber app to support a full 100 languages, assumedly including Spanish, which is so widely spoken across the U.S.
The app, which is now integrated with the Uber Eats business, will also feature updated locational details.
“Along with the translation feature, Uber also tweaked its app on Thursday to give passengers more information about their ride status when waiting for drivers to pick them up,” writes CNet’s Dana Kerr. “The app will now show riders a series of notifications about their pickup, including remaining minutes until the driver arrives, where to meet the driver and instructions on navigating big venues, like airports or concert arenas.”
It makes sense that Uber would take initiative in trying to reduce the language barrier if many of its drivers show up to haul native English speakers without having a strong command of the language themselves.
It’s likely that these assistive technologies will help Uber drivers or passengers who struggle with the language to gain confidence and become more effective in communicating with the strangers that they interact with in the course of their jobs.
“Between the translations and more detailed pick-up and drop-off instructions, Uber is making it harder to blame the app if your ride isn’t crystal clear,” writes Sasha Lekach at Mashable.
Look for this new functionality as you assess what’s happening in the ride-sharing sector.
