Student Creates £30 Real-Time Translator Glasses to Break Language Barriers

Milya Mohd Asyraf, a 22-year-old student at the University of Plymouth, has created an affordable device that can translate and transcribe spoken language in real time. This invention is designed to help people overcome language barriers and make technology more accessible to everyone. Milya spent six months developing the device as part of her electrical and electronic engineering degree. The device costs about thirty pounds to make, which is much cheaper than similar products on the market. It works by capturing speech through a small microphone, translating it into text using artificial intelligence, and then projecting the text onto a small screen in front of the user's glasses. This allows people to read what is being said as it happens, without needing to use their phones or buy expensive smart glasses.

Milya was inspired to create this device because she grew up in a multilingual environment and often found it difficult to understand what others were saying. She realized that language barriers and even different accents can make communication challenging. Many translation tools today rely on smartphones or costly smart glasses, which can interrupt conversations and are not always accessible to everyone. Milya wanted to design something that was simple, affordable, and easy to use. Her device attaches to any pair of glasses with a clip-on box and does not include extra features that drive up the price. The electronics are hidden inside a small case, and the translated text is reflected through a mirror, lens, and reflector, appearing like subtitles in the user's field of view.

The device is most accurate when programmed for a specific language, but it is also useful for people who are hard of hearing. It can transcribe speech into text, providing a subtitle display for those who need it. Milya is passionate about creating technology that is truly helpful and respects people's privacy. She wants to make devices that people actually need and want to use, without risking their personal data. For other students who want to invent something, Milya advises them to start right away, even if they do not know everything yet. She believes that writing down ideas and making plans is the first step to success. Milya hopes her invention will make communication easier for everyone and inspire others to create technology that makes a difference.