Japanese startup Donut Robotics is developing a smart face mask that can translate conversations in nine languages via Bluetooth.
The ‘c-mask’ can record speech, transcribe it into text notes via Bluetooth, and then translate it into nine languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, French, Korean, Thai, Bahasa Indonesia, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
The device can also make calls, note down meeting minutes and louden the wearer’s voice. The company has raised JP¥28 million (around US$260,185) on Japanese crowdfunding platform, Fundinno, to continue developments on the smart face mask.
“For many years, we have spent time on developing robots, and we have decided to utilize the technology to be useful in the post-coronavirus world,” Donut Robotics CEO Taisuke Ono stated in an interview with Reuters Japan.
The company hopes to release the smart face mask in September 2020. It also plans to upgrade the technology by including AR and VR features in the future.
See how the smart face mask works below.
