Omni-Lookup can search conveniently and efficiently in dictionaries and other databases – in fact almost anything that you can search by entering a query whether the resource is online or on your hard disk. Omni-Lookup can use existing resources on the Internet and your PC (dictionary applications, files and file archives).
Why would you need a special program for this? Sure, the dictionary on your hard disk has a convenient pop-up search and you can search multiple search engines using a browser plug-in but if you think along these lines, you might be missing the point: Searching the same way as 10 years ago is not enough today. While organizations are saving on reviewers and editors, translators are expected to deliver publication quality texts. Translators are also facing lower rates, tighter deadlines and are expected to work faster. At the same time, technical fields are becoming more complex and developing at a greater speed than before.
Consider this example: A translator is working on a text in a word processor containing the English word ‘civil’. The translator knows what this word means, but it doesn’t hurt to take a look at synonyms or rare uses rather than just opt for a solution that will fit 90% of cases. This might lead them to discover the rare meaning "according to Roman law" which they might not have thought of. It has been demonstrated that passive vocabulary is far larger than active vocabulary which means that translation quality can be increased by looking up even familiar words. And you could even go a step further and use translation archives and programs as inspiration for phrases which you are either uncertain of or cannot remember, rather than reusing the translations directly.
Time can run away with you quickly if you are following this strategy. It is also really inconvenient to have to start several different applications or access different sources when looking for the same term or phrase, not to mention that some applications may conflict with others. This is exactly what Omni-Lookup is for and it does all of this with little effort on your behalf. In the simplest case, a single key press is enough to look up a word on the screen in any number of sources. This also saves a lot of hassle as it avoids mistyped search queries or web addresses. If the translator is using a different language keyboard or the source language is for example Chinese, data entry can be time consuming: Omni-Lookup avoids that. In a nutshell, Omni-Look kills two birds with one stone – it increases productivity while improving translation quality. Productivity gains are also made as Omni-Lookup can search through local resources such as dictionaries and files on your hard disk in addition to the Internet.
Even experienced translators who might be thinking “Sure, I know that already and I use program XYZ which offers similar capability to Omni-Lookup” should keep their eyes open. They have nothing to lose by downloading the free, fully functional trial version of Omni-Lookup and they might just discover new options they may not have considered before. If Omni-Lookup has peaked your curiosity or convinced you already, now is the opportunity to try it out, learn something and compare with other products before you decide on what is right for you – that is of course if there really is another product comparable with Omni-Lookup ...