Redhead
Yes, a typhoon passed over Tokyo during the night and I slept through it. Before she spoke to the gathering of businessmen at lunchtime today here in Tokyo, Mrs. Thatcher went on a train to the foot of Mount Fuji, not to admire the view but to visit a computer factory. And David Powers went with her and he's here, safely back. What happened?
Powers
Well, what the computer company decided to do was to show them … to show Mrs. Thatcher their latest pride and joy&em;a wonderful computer which translates from Japanese into English. All the things which had been prepared went beautifully well. Then they asked Mrs. Thatcher, make up a sentence, we'll translate it into Japanese and then back into English for you. So you said, “It's an honour and pleasure to be visiting this company today”. A few seconds later, out comes the message from the computer:- “This company's having visited today of me is honourable.” Well, I [end p1] didn't think that was quite right. So I had a quick word with Mrs. Thatcher. Mrs. Thatcher …
Thatcher
Well, thank you very much.
Powers
You're having difficulties with the translation problems …
Thatcher
No, I'm not having any difficulties &dubellip; (Laughter) The computers … no, nor indeed are my hosts. What it has proved is that the brain is still the best computer, which is as well. Because this computer is only the child of our brains.
Powers
Do you expect to have similar problems with the political talks you're going to have?
Thatcher
I have no … I have no problems. You've got it wrong. It's your brain that's not computing it right. (Laughter) I have no problems. My hosts have no problems. What we're finding at the moment is a difficulty of translating by machine the Japanese language to the English language. That is something the human brain still does better than the computer. Have you got it?
Powers
Do you think the Japanese …
Thatcher
Good.
Powers
… are going to get your message?
Thatcher
Yes! I think they'll get that all right.
Redhead
Yes and they certainly have. David, [end p2] do you think the Japanese Prime Minister has an answer ready?
Powers
I'm sure he has but whether it'll be the one that Mrs. Thatcher wants is another question.
Redhead
David Powers, thank you. I think that the typhoon that passed over Tokyo was called Margaret Thatcher.