Well, panic no more – The Pilot, an earpiece being developed by the wearable-technology company Waverly Labs aims to change all that, so you’ll never get lost in translation again.
The ‘smart earpiece,’ as the company calls it, and corresponding app, uses speech-recognition technology to translate in real time, so that two people speaking different languages can have a conversation without missing a beat.
Of course, in order for the technology to work, both people need to be ‘hooked up,’ so to speak—which is why the set comes with two earpieces, one for each participant.
The idea is that when language gets in the way, both people would put in an earpiece and speak in their preferred tongue.
In the video below released by the company, founder Andrew Ochoa reveals that he came up with the idea when he “met a French girl” and wanted to communicate with her clearly.
The clip also demonstrates just how clever this amazing little device is with a real-time demonstration of its capabilities.
“It’s the dream, you know?” adds Andrew. “A life untethered, free of language barriers. It’s just that it’s no longer a dream anymore. It’s real.”
The Pilot will initially be released in European-based Romance and Germanic languages, including English, Spanish, French, and Italian, according to the company’s website. Following the first wave will be other world languages, such as Slavic, Semitic, Hindi, and East Asian.
Waverly Labs says that it will begin taking pre-orders through the crowdfunding site Indiegogo this southern hemisphere autumn, and the mobile app will launch this winter. Earpieces will be available by autumn 2017.
While prices could change, the earpieces are currently slated to go for US$299, including access to select languages. Additional languages will be available via download.
On the Waverly Labs website, the company has also announced a giveaway “as a celebration for our upcoming campaign.” Go to the Pilot’s launch page to enter.
De nada (Spanish for you’re welcome).