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I’ve wondered when we would get a real-time wearable translator. The makers of “ili” say that it will be this Summer. Watch their first commercial.
Note this disclaimer: “UPDATE: In light of viewer feedback, we would like to clarify that the man and women are all actors and actresses; no one was forced to act against their will in any way.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6ngM0LHxuU
The commercial shows the actor’s British English being converted to Japanese in real time, though I have no way to judge the quality of that translation. The commercial doesn’t show any Japanese being converted to English, though I imagine it works in both directions. It also doesn’t show any other languages or that the device can recognize American English. I am sure we will learn more about its capabilities in the coming months.
I definitely think travel will be enhanced by wearable translators, and it devalues my plan to make my future children natively trilingual. Excuse me while I spend the rest of the day daydreaming about being able to speak and understand every language in the world.
Thoughts? How much are you willing to pay for an ili?
That is amazing! I’d pay maybe a couple of hundred at the most. Very cool.
I think I’d pay a few hundred as well. I imagine it will quickly get much better and become an app. No need for a separate device.
Anyone remember the “Universal Translator” on Star Trek? That was the 1960’s, and here we are, catching up with sci-fi now… But I still don’t have my flying car!
Etihad First Class Apartments on A380 might be better than flying car.
I wonder if devices like this will kill jobs for foreign language teachers and interpreters. Since my friend’s college major is Spanish, I’m concerned about his career prospects.
I’m already concerned about his career prospects with that major, but this won’t help.