Airport issues staff with new translation gadget

A DEVICE that can translate speech into 74 languages has been introduced at an airport to help staff communicate with international passengers.

Pocketalk works by letting people speak into it and the translation is then played through a speaker or displayed on screen for the other person to read.

The handheld machine, which can translate languages including Spanish, French, Arabic, Japanese and Swahili, has now been introduced at the security area at Edinburgh Airport.

It will be used alongside native speakers on the security teams.

AMEN’s shed group is planning a sit-in to stop it being evicted from its premises. Gorbals Men’s Shed has occupied a railway arch for the last two years but a dispute with New Gorbals Housing Association has led to them being told to leave.

The group says it has been told that its electricity supply is to be disconnected and it is to leave today. But founding members said they will not leave.

Davie, a founding member of the Gorbals Men’s Shed, said communication with the association which was providing support broke down.

He said: “We have been told to be out on Wednesday morning.”

Another member, John, said: “We have been told they are coming to evict us. We have funding and can pay for the electricity.”

Davie added: “We have had funding from the city council, the Lottery and charities like the Robertson Trust.

“It has helped pay for tools and equipment and we have put in flooring and done all the work in here.

“We don’t have any water, so we bring in water every day in containers.”

He said the Men’s Shed supports many vulnerable men and help with mental health and social isolation.

In the arch, near the Citizens Theatre, there is a workshop at the front with work benches, racks of safety equipment including welding masks and protective clothing.

In the back is a seating area with heaters, and cooking facilities.

Davie added: “We are running workshops, funded by the council.

“We have other funding and we can pay for the electric and other work, but the Housing Association wants us out, even though they don’t own the property, Network Rail does.”

New Gorbals Housing Association has been paying for electricity and said it has been supporting the organisation.