Language-translating earbuds are here
If you are trying to order dinner or find a hotel abroad, do not let your poor grasp of foreign languages make you panic. An upcoming in-ear gadget can now translate speech like Babel Fish in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, or Universal Translator gadget in Star Trek.
The system, dubbed Pilot, comprises two earpieces to be worn by two people who do not speak the same language, and uses an app, so the duo can converse with ease. It is designed to work offline, so it would not incur data charges when used overseas. Both wireless earpieces can also be used by one person for listening to music.
While the first-generation device works only when speaking to someone wearing an earpiece, future generations could listen to everything happening nearby, so pairs of devices would not be needed.
The gadget was invented by Waverly Labs founder, Andrew Ochoa, who said he had the idea for it after meeting a French girl.
An accompanying app enables both earpieces to toggle between languages
