Japanese startup creates a ‘smart mouthpiece’ that can translate up to eight languages

June
30, 2020

4 min read

Once again, Japan shows that it lives in the future. The Japanese startup Donut Robotics has created a “Smart mouthpiece” that through an internet connection you might be able to translate Japanese into eight languages.

“We worked hard for years to develop a robot and we have used that technology to create a product that responds to how the coronavirus has reshaped society,” he said. Taisuke Ono, CEO of Donut Robotics, at a product demo in Tokyo.

^{Photo: iGeorge via Twitter.}

This invention consists of a standard size mask made of white plastic, which has a bluetooth connection to synchronize it with a smartphone The tablet. The user, through an applicationYou will be able to transform speech into text messages and make calls, as well as amplify your voice by using the mask.

The “smart masks” or “c-masks” will be officially launched on the market in September. The first five thousand are expected to be shipped to buyers in Japan and then marketed in China, the United States and Europe.

Each mouthpiece would cost $ 40 per piece, which would launch the Japanese startup almost immediately into a mass market.

^{Photo: iGeorge via Twitter.}

It is important to mention that the prototype of the product was made within a month with a translation software It had originally been created for robots that the company had developed for Haneda Airport in Tokyo. However, the cancellation of air travel due to the pandemic led developers to think of another viable idea.

Likewise, a design was used that Shunsuke Fujibayashi, a company engineer, created four years ago as part of a student project which consisted of the mapping of facial muscles to interpret speech.

The development of this invention was possible thanks to a collection of 28 million yen, amount that is equivalent to almost six million mexican pesos, in which shares of Donut Robotics through Fundinno, Japanese site of crowdfunding.

^{Photo: eincop via Twitter}

“We raised our initial target of 7 million yen in three minutes and stopped after 37 minutes when we had reached 28 million yen,” added the company’s CEO.

The “c-mask” has joined a large number of technological ideas from companies and developers around the world to create solutions around the health crisis. Among these, the artificial intelligence in hospitals and the 3D printing to create respiratory ventilators.

In addition, among the antecedents is the project of Jim Collins, a researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who, together with his team, developed sensors they could detect the virus the Ebola.

As of today, this technology is capable of detecting diseases such as Measles, influenza, hepatitis C and even SARS. Therefore, it is hoped that they will soon be able to adapt it to detect the virus that causes COVID-19.

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