Google’s latest ad for its updated ‘Translate’ app packs a heavy emotional punch. By telling the story of an aspiring Spanish footballer in Northern Ireland, the ad puts a strong human angle on the advantatges of technology. See why its our video viral of the week below…
Alberto Balde was born in Spain but moved to Northern Ireland when his mum got a job there, and his love for football took him to Portadown Youth Football Club.
All he wanted to do was play football – but couldn’t speak any English. In 2013 Gary Magee the manager of Portadown Youth under 12s Football Club, was given the idea of using the Google Translate App to help communicate instructions to Alberto. It also let Alberto speak with fellow teammates.
The story was first published in the Portadown Times with Google then picking up on the news and sending a crew from America to spend time filming and making a video about Alberto’s story.
In the heart-warming viral video Alberto begins by saying: “My name is Alberto and I love football. When my mom moved here for work. I was a little scared at first. I really wanted to play football but I didn’t speak any English at all.”
But those fears were soon quashed for Alberto thanks to the Google Translate app and this summer he travelled from Portadown to England where he’s training with several premier league clubs.
