We have all been there – when you are trying to communicate with another person but you don’t share a common language. This can be because you are on holiday, on a video call with colleagues halfway across the world, a student in a new country, or even have in-laws who speak a different language to yourself.
When there is no common language, a person may reach for their phone for a text translator app, hire an interpreter, or just partake in good old-fashioned charades. Now, new companies are coming to the fore to try and invent new methods of communication – and some are looking to science fiction for inspiration.
Space exploration is a common theme in sci-fi movies, and from planet to planet, not everyone speaks the same language. In the past, writers have come up with creative solutions to this (otherwise it would be a very boring show). For example, in Doctor Who, the TARDIS has a telepathic translation circuit; in Star Trek, they have their own fancy universal translator; and The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy has the babel fish. The babel fish is this small, bright yellow, fish-like species that is placed into people’s ears and allows them to hear any language.
Back in 2016, the principle (not the fish itself) inspired Leal Tian, a self-proclaimed sci-fi lover and the founder of Timekettle, to create a device that could also allow the person to hear translations of any language, in the world’s first ear-to-ear wearable translator.
The concept of these earbuds was so popular that they broke Kickstarter records. The campaign had over 1,500 backers and they quadrupled the initial pledge money. Within the first few years of creating the product, it won several awards and was named by Entrepreneur magazine as one of the “incredible startups”.
Currently, the earbud translator (WT2 Edge/ W3 Real-time Translator Earbuds) is on its third upgrade since the products were first introduced. This upgrade enhances translation efficiency and accuracy.
These translators are sleek earbuds that you can pop into your ear and are very easy to use. You hand one to the person you are talking to and select the languages (up to 40 online and 13 offline) that you are both speaking on the app. The app can also be used without the earbuds.
In addition to earbuds, there are other technologies that Timekettle has produced. For example:
- The X1 AI Interpreter Hub: ideal for business meetings as it does not require an app on the phone. It comes with earbuds and a hub that shows an interface and can support up to 20 people in five different languages.
- Fluentalk T1 Mini Handheld Translator Device: aimed at leisure travel. With no earbuds, this allows an instant text-based translation service, with 40 languages available for both voice and photo translations, as well as 13 offline languages.
How does the technology work?
Timekettle uses a unique technology called HybridCommTM, which helps the natural and fluent interpretation experience. Falling under this umbrella are various other software needed for different purposes:
- BoostClean Speech – this helps to reduce the environmental noise. The technology recognizes the sound coming from the direction of the person’s mouth.
- TurboFast SI – using Bluetooth the products can record, translate, and playback any translations at the same time.
- UniSmart AI Translation Platform – Timekettle has built an adaptive cloud platform with over 150 servers and accelerators, allowing the products to accurately support more than 600 languages directions and 40+ languages.
Easy communication is something that every human craves and with new translator technology being brought to the market, conversations are becoming easier. The future is looking to be more interconnected. To find out more click here.
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Source Link: Communication Across Different Languages Is Now As Easy As Putting In An Earbud
