Translation Earbuds

[Bob Howard]

I did a search on the Forum and did not get any hits on "Translation Earbuds" of the type described here. It's rather impressive and, well . . . futuristic, or maybe I'm just behind the curve on this kind of thing.

Anyway, has anyone used them?

Top 5 Best Translator Earbuds for Global Communication in 2024 – BestBuyPick Reviews

www.bestbuypick.com

 

[Tincatinker]

I’m minded of Douglas Adam’s great invention: the Babel Fish that could be slipped in to the ear canal and provide instant translation of any language.

"Meanwhile, the poor Babel fish, by effectively removing all barriers to communication between different races and cultures, has caused more and bloodier wars than anything else in the history of creation."

 

[dick bird]

I’m minded of Douglas Adam’s great invention: the Babel Fish that could be slipped in to the ear canal and provide instant translation of any language.

"Meanwhile, the poor Babel fish, by effectively removing all barriers to communication between different races and cultures, has caused more and bloodier wars than anything else in the history of creation."

You got in before me, and I shall refrain from breaking the rules by mentioning the main implication of the fact that the Babel Fish existed. I think it was Kurt Vonnegut who had a similar idea when he had a character from planet earth - the only planet in the universe where speech was used to communicate rather than telepathy - employed on a space ship as communications officer because telepathy simply created chaos if everyone knew what everyone else was thinking.

But in answer to the question, to the best of my knowledge and belief, no.

 

[MikeJS]

Just earbuds/headset with SayHi?

 

[ShellToucher]

I did a search on the Forum and did not get any hits on "Translation Earbuds" of the type described here. It's rather impressive and, well . . . futuristic, or maybe I'm just behind the curve on this kind of thing.

Anyway, has anyone used them?

Top 5 Best Translator Earbuds for Global Communication in 2024 – BestBuyPick Reviews

www.bestbuypick.com

I own them. Brought them on my first Camino and to Peru. They just are not fast enough to keep the conversation flowing. Plus, relies on your cellphone capturing the speech being translated. So it’s really not subtle. Might as well just use google translate if the phone plays such a key role. I would say the techs not there yet. I bought them 4 years back, maybe they’re better now?

 

[MikeJS]

I own them. Brought them on my first Camino and to Peru. They just are not fast enough to keep the conversation flowing. Plus, relies on your cellphone capturing the speech being translated. So it’s really not subtle. Might as well just use google translate if the phone plays such a key role. I would say the techs not there yet. I bought them 4 years back, maybe they’re better now?

I find SayHi adequate for conversations once the other person understands how it works.

 

[Ella L.]

O peregrino...I have wandered all over Spain, and I am still trying to gain some proficiency in that beautiful language, and yet I have never felt I needed 'tech-translation'. Perhaps it is because I am a better than average mime, or perhaps it is that the Spanish people are such kindly hosts and will come out to meet you. I have met many Camino angels despite my linguistic limitations., and I have walked off the well-travelled Ways.

 

[ArleneLaskey]

Star Trek Universal Translator

 

[ShellToucher]

I find SayHi adequate for conversations once the other person understands how it works.

I an talking about Timekettle M3 Earbuds bud

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[Bob Howard]

O peregrino...I have wandered all over Spain, and I am still trying to gain some proficiency in that beautiful language, and yet I have never felt I needed 'tech-translation'. Perhaps it is because I am a better than average mime, or perhaps it is that the Spanish people are such kindly hosts and will come out to meet you. I have met many Camino angels despite my linguistic limitations., and I have walked off the well-travelled Ways.

Well, I can get by ok in Spanish, but as I assume you have observed on your Camino, we tend to meet people from all over the world. While many Europeans tend to speak English, that is not the case with the rest of the world. On a number of occasions I have felt the "need" (as you described it) to converse with someone who speaks neither Spanish nor English. Do you take a phone on your Camino, or is that too much tech?

 

[WGroleau]

Machine translation is OK for grocery shopping, asking directions, knowing what is the topic of something, but I would never trust it for anything legal or financial or medical. Even in something as easy as English/Spanish I have seen it guess wrong the gender, person, or number of a verb form. Chinese to English or vice versa, sometimes the result is complete gibberish. I have even seen Google deliver the opposite by removing or adding a "no." Recent LLM/AI advances have made a significant improvement, but it is still not to be trusted for anything really important. In some ways, it's worse because the more natural sounding language might give you an unwarranted sense of reliability.

But I met a lot of Korean peregrinos who knew neither Spanish nor English and depended greatly on their smart-phone apps!

 

[DwainS]

Not the same but may interest some people. Ozlo Sleepbuds, If you need to drown out noise in an Albergue while sleeping. They sit flush to the ear, Can play audio books then switch over to white noise automatically and can also set alarm off so only you can hear it. Not cheap but can google it for more information.

 

[SYates]

I have never used them, but I would be careful with most so-called review sites as they are mainly created to make affiliate income when somebody buys via their links. I have used translation apps and Google translation in the past with good results, so I never saw the need to buy this kind of earbuds.
BC SY

 

[Ella L.]

Well, I can get by ok in Spanish, but as I assume you have observed on your Camino, we tend to meet people from all over the world. While many Europeans tend to speak English, that is not the case with the rest of the world. On a number of occasions I have felt the "need" (as you described it) to converse with someone who speaks neither Spanish nor English. Do you take a phone on your Camino, or is that too much tech?

Eeee...of course I take a phone (needed it this year to call 112)....although I do remember the days of the locoturios and internet cafes. I have noticed the mirth and merriment that ensues when Google translate or some other app embarresses the the poor Korean gal because of it's 'explicit' nature, and the limits of those systems. I agree that technology can be a boon...I walked the Camino Torres without GPS guidance, and that was a mistake...but sometimes the lack of technology can open doors...