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TimeKettle WT2 Edge review: Is the in-ear simultaneous translator worth it?
A genius real-time translation device from manufacturer TimeKettle, but leaves something to be desired
The WT2 Edge earbud translator from TimeKettle is a product designed to allow two-way communication between interlocutors speaking different languages. In theory, this means one person speaking English into their mobile phone can have their words translated automatically into Spanish and spoken directly into the ear of the person they are speaking to, who can reply in Spanish via the phone app themselves and be understood in English by the first person.This automatic, computerised translation technology has come a long way in recent years and is capable of performing amazing feats of linguistics in an incredibly short space of time.
As TimeKettle themselves boast, “Your words are instantly transformed and delivered to your listener’s ear in just 0.5 seconds,” meaning you can “say goodbye to outdated translation methods and join the modern era of effortless communication”.
But how well does it really work, and is it worth buying a WT2 Edge from TimeKettle to be able to communicate more effectively with people of other nationalities, even if you don’t speak the language? We reviewed the product to find out…
The listen option, which allows you to understand what someone else is saying in a different language, works well, but you need to be able to control how quickly someone is speaking. Otherwise, if they speak too fast, there is an awkward time lag between what they’ve said and when you understand it.Of course, real-time interpretation is a difficult skill and the manufacturers admit that “Translation speed may vary depending on factors such as network environment, usage, and more.”
Another issue is the swapping of ear buds. In order to convince somebody to put one of these in their ear to be able to talk with you, you need to explain in their language first why and what the technology does, which kind of negates the whole point.
One suggestion to the manufacturer is to include a preset message that could be played at a touch of a button that will explain all this to the person you want to talk with. In that way, you wouldn’t get that awkward delay when trying to explain what you want in the chosen language.
For older people who have problems using new technology, it could be tricky to set up the ear buds in the first place as you need to download the official App and ensure you have language credit programmed in.
For simple tasks like asking for directions and buying tickets it works extremely well. For someone who has absolutely no background understanding of a language, it can easily help you to be understood and would make a useful tool for travelling.
It could potentially be used for guided tours, too, and it works well to keep up with the tour guide as long as they do not speak too quickly or incorrectly. The technology is able to handle people who speak clearly and properly, but anyone with a strong accent presents more of a challenge for the computer to translate.
Overall, the product is well made and a but at a retail price of 349 euros, it’s not a cheap trick, whatever special deals and discounts are available. Still, it’s an astoundingly clever piece of kit and would make a great addition for all gadget lovers who travel a lot.
