Communication problems while travelling abroad could become a thing of the past, thanks to an incredible new gadget.

Timekettle's WT2 Bluetooth headset promises to translate conversations in near real time so that you're never left lost in translation.

A Kickstarter campaign launching next month could help to bring the tool to mass market, although a price has yet to be revealed.

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Communication problems while travelling abroad could become a thing of the past, thanks to an incredible new gadget. Timekettle's WT2 Bluetooth headset (pictured) could help to break down language barriers for holidaymakers and businesses.

HOW DOES IT WORK? The WT2 system is made up of a pair of headsets which connect to an iOS app. As soon as the charging case is opened, the headsets automatically pair with the iPhone or iPad. As one person speaks, their sentence is sent through the headset to the smartphone where it is translated to the desired language and spoken into the earpiece worn by the second person. There is a short delay of around three seconds, but the firm hopes to reduce this to as little as one second. Currently, it can translate from Mandarin Chinese to English, but more languages are expected to be added. Advertisement

The WT2 comprises a pair of headsets which connect to an iOS app that conducts the translation work.

As soon as the charging case that holds the headsets is opened, they automatically pair with the iPhone or iPad.

As one person speaks, their sentence is sent through the headset to the smartphone.

It is then translated into the desired language and spoken into the earpiece worn by the second person.

There is a short delay of around three seconds, but the firm hopes to reduce this to as little as one second.

Currently, it can translate from Mandarin Chinese to English, but more languages are expected to be added.

On its website, TimeKettle said: '"Peel" the Charging Box, "Share" one with someone, the two translating earphones are with each other and the App via Dual Bluetooth.

'Then, start talking.

'I speak in Chinese, then you hear in English.

'You speak in English, I hear you in Chinese.'

As one person speaks, their sentence is sent through the headset (pictured) to the app. It is then translated into the desired language and spoken into the earpiece worn by the second person

There is a short delay, but the firm hopes to reduce this to as little as one second. A Kickstarter campaign launching next month could help to bring the tool to mass market

The WT2 comprises a pair of headsets which connect to an iOS app that conducts the translation work. As soon as the charging case that holds the headsets is opened (pictured), they automatically pair with the iPhone or iPad

Futuristic devices that can allow translation of speech have long been the preserve of science fiction, from the universal translators of the Star Trek franchise to Douglas Adams' babel fish in The Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy.

And a number of companies have launched similar efforts in recent years.

One such firm is Lingmo International, a technology start-up based in West Gosford, Australia, which unveiled its One2One earpiece at the United Nations Artificial Intelligence for Good Summit in Geneva in June.

Currently the WT2 (pictured) can translate from Mandarin Chinese to English, but more languages are expected to be added

The incredible earpiece, which is powered by IBM Watson's artificial intelligence system, will hit global markets next month

The device supports translations across eight languages – English, Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, German and Chinese.

And unlike most translation devices, the One2One does not rely on either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity, which can often slow down the translation process.