Could you imagine going to a foreign country and conversing with other individuals who do not speak the language as you? Not only are you speaking with him or her, enjoying conversation, but the two of you are speaking your own, native language.
Say hello, hallo, hola, ciao, bonjour, ni hao to the Pilot: the bluetooth earpiece language translator that is expected to be released in May of 2017. Simply hand one of the ear buds to the person who speaks a different language, stick in the ear and become immersed in conversation.
The first languages to be on the application include English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese. To be released in the fall of 2017 include German, Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, Slavic, East Asian and African languages.
The company that created it, Waverly Labs, started the campaign on Indiegogo, an international crowdsurfing website, and has already accumulated over 1.5 million dollars to support the device. Not only this, but the creators have been giving early bird specials on the product.
It's amazing to think of a world with not language barriers, really. No walls regarding typing into Google translator and spitting out words that, more than likely and typically, make no sense in that native language.
This truly opens the world to be more unified, to be more understanding, to open the eyes of all a little fuller and a little brighter. Hopefully to minimize lack of culture and the mentality that one's culture is superior compared to others — that your culture is not the only one in this world, and to cross the border into a different environment.
But does it also make others lazy? Does it cause individuals to rely on technology rather than learning the language or even attempting even some of the most simple words such as "Hi" or "How do you do?"
Personally, we believe to an extent, but not to this entirety. Though the thought that this technology could delay or halt the want and need for individuals to learn a new language and that we would be dependent on a device, it literally opens the doors to so much more. New faces, new cultures, new destinations.
Because once before you would not have the opportunity to speak with that man in Greece and have an insightful conversation. Or that woman in Thailand who offers you a job. Or that individual who ends up being one of the most mesmerizing person you have ever met, becoming a great, great friend.
There are limitations, of course. The designers will have to get out the kinks to make sure it works to its entirely, continue to build more languages, correspond with dialect and tone, of course. Technology can be faulty and has its errors, but what machinery have you used that never stopped working to its desired potential at some point?
We hope to meet that person not just within our own comfort zone but across completely different waters who speak a different language. We hope to meet new people, learn new languages, indulge in new cultures, travel to destinations.
Essentially, we want culture shock with the comfort of being able to speak with anyone freely. And this technology provides this. No limitations to understanding —and the word understanding could be used in different variations, not just language, but also including culture and mindset.
And as said earlier, hopefully this would interest more individuals of cultures that differentiate from their own. To stop with the mindset that one's own personal culture is superior to other cultures. To progress in the want and the need of children and adults alike in the humanities of numerous aspects.
We can't wait until we can fully feel as if we are linking arms with the rest of the world. And with that, thank you, Waverly Labs, for knocking down that wall that held so many in.
Thank you.
Gracias.
XieXie.
Efcharisto.
Danke.
Je vous remercie.
Grazi.
