I'm looking for advice on translation devices for my father, who is 78 and not very tech-savvy. He spends part of the year in a Spanish-speaking country and is eager to communicate better. He emailed me about some new devices that can translate conversations in real-time without needing wifi, and he's particularly interested in options that are simple to use. He struggles with technology, having only recently started to use a smartphone and not knowing what Bluetooth is. He's never used headphones, so I'd prefer to recommend something that's not too complex, like not in-ear devices that might be disruptive in public. If you have any suggestions for a device he can easily order from Amazon, I'd really appreciate it!
2 Answers
I’ve heard that there are some apps, like Google Translate, that can work pretty well if you have cell service. But that might not help since your dad needs something that doesn't rely on wifi. I'd suggest looking into dedicated translation devices. Some of them can translate speech without needing an internet connection, which sounds like it might be ideal for him!
For someone who isn’t tech-savvy, I’d recommend a handheld translator rather than earbuds. Some models let you speak and they translate back and forth, plus they don’t require complicated setups. Look for ones that have built-in language packs so he doesn't have to rely on wifi.
Great point! I’ll lean towards handheld models. Less fuss seems like the way to go!
True, but with some apps, you can download languages beforehand. If he can get familiar with an app, it might be easier than dealing with a separate device.