The universal translator, a vital accessory in many science fiction projects and a true dream in real life, would forever change the way we communicate. We have seen developments like Skype Translator before, but the Pilot goes a step further by combining a proprietary software solution with two earbuds, so that two people can speak different languages and receive the corresponding translation almost in real time. Is it real?
The idea of uniting humankind under a single language is nothing new. In fact, the Bible itself makes a direct reference with the story of the Tower of Babel. For centuries, we have tried to dissolve the barriers that separate one language from another. Richness, complexity, context... are all very difficult factors to transfer and implement into a single solution, and we must not forget that languages are dynamic. Each region, each culture modifies elements, adds them, and discards them. What better example than Spanish? «Retrete-inodoro-escusado-bombonera-váter-taza». Half a dozen words describe the same object. Now, imagine a universal translator. "The" universal translator. Let's set aside the "golden accessories" and the "extraterrestrial fish". Will we be able to create something like that? Can computing finally reach the level necessary to achieve it?
The people behind the Pilot project believe so. The video is nothing more than a simple demonstration, a very controlled way to present to the world what they are working on: a system of two earbuds assisted by a dedicated app. What's in that app and in those earbuds? "Translation technology" is all the responsible company Waverly Labs repeats, but it is logical to assume that there will be no translation without the intervention of a smartphone, and that it will not depend on an internet connection to process the data, or otherwise conversations are going to be a little slow.
Next Wednesday, Pilot will start its crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, a detail that above all makes us think about the absence of a prototype. It is estimated that the price will range between $129 and $179 during its campaign, before jumping to $300 once it's finished. We are very excited about the Pilot, but at the same time we are cautious, and we'd like to see more.
