Language has remained one of humanity's most stubborn barriers. For decades, digital translation tools have promised convenient communication, yet few have delivered the immediacy and emotional nuance of real human interaction.

When Timekettle, AI-powered earbuds capable of instantly translating speech in real-time across more than 40 languages, was introduced to the market, this situation began to change. Two people speaking different languages can each wear one earbud, and through the connected mobile app, their spoken words can be instantly translated back and forth.

Crisis-sparked idea

Its developer Tian Li inadvertently conceived the earbud idea. More than 10 years ago, his parents were vacationing in Europe when they suddenly fell ill. In the emergency room, they were unable to communicate clearly with local doctors as the translation apps available at the time were slow, inaccurate, and inefficient under stressful conditions.

"That experience left a deep impression on me," Tian recalls. "I realized that our world needs more than just tools for translation — we need something immersive, instant, and intuitive."

That realization became the founding vision behind Timekettle. Rather than a handheld device or app, Tian imagined something far more organic — an earbud that sits quietly in one's ear, listening and translating speech as naturally as a native speaker. The inspiration came from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, where a fictional creature in the form of a fish could automatically translate any language once placed in the ear. "Why can't earbuds become our real-world Babel Fish?" Tian thought.

This question launched a years-long journey. With a background in engineering and a passion for cross-cultural communication, Tian assembled a team in Shenzhen and began working on a prototype. The goal was clear: build a product that would allow two people speaking different languages to hold a natural conversation — without pauses, without friction, and without even noticing the presence of technology.

The algorithm of success

Turning that vision into a real product was a monumental task. The first version of Timekettle was launched through Kickstarter, attracting attention and also critical user feedback.

Many asked for additional features — music streaming, phone calls or larger batteries — but Tian made a deliberate choice: focusing solely on translation.

After securing angel investment, the team moved into mass production. In 2019, the launch of the ZERO series saw record-breaking crowdfunding success in Japan. But the celebration was short-lived — high return rates and customer complaints exposed a key flaw: the earbuds struggled in noisy environments.

The team went back to the drawing board, analyzing over 2,000 pieces of customer feedback. They finally found a solution. During the process, the team developed an innovative algorithm that rewrote the traditional unidirectional transmission feature of Bluetooth earbuds, enabling two earbuds to achieve real-time bidirectional translation.

"This algorithm can determine the direction and distance of sounds," said Tian. "This ensures that the sounds captured are translated more accurately."

At the same time, Timekettle developed a vector-based noise cancellation algorithm using a three-microphone array.

"This is like installing a 'microscope' for the auditory world," said Shi Wei, Timekettle's head of R&D. Shi said that Timekettle's ultimate goal is to use noise reduction technology to completely eliminate all ambient sounds and noise except for the speaker's voice.

From the lab to the world

Today, Timekettle's latest models are powered by its in-house Babel OS and can interpret 40 languages and 93 accents. With a global network of over 200 edge servers, latency has been reduced to near-zero in most regions.

During the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, the Uzbekistan delegation used Timekettle devices to explore Chinese culture and communicate effortlessly with local volunteers. "Now I can understand everything," their vice delegation leader said in awe.

The product has now reached more than 170 countries and regions, with overseas sales accounting for over 70 percent of revenue. Timekettle's young team — average age just 28 — has secured more than 100 global patents.

But Tian is not chasing quick wins. "Technology is born to solve problems, and solving problems requires taking one step at a time — there are no shortcuts," he said.