US company creates in-ear language translator

The frustration and bewilderment that comes with language barriers could be soon a thing of the past thanks to a new in-ear translator.

Waverly Labs claims to have developed a headset that fits into the ear and translates conversations in real time.

Named Pilot, the device uses "translation technology" embedded in an app.

Waverly Labs founder Andrew Ochoa says he got the idea "after meeting a French girl".

"It's the dream, you know?" he said.

"A life untethered, free of language barriers. It's just that it's no longer a dream anymore."

The New York City-based company plans to support European-based Romance and Germanic languages first.

Slavic, Semitic, Hindi and East Asian languages are on the horizon.

Waverly Labs has launched a crowdfunding campaign to make the Pilot available for sale next year, with an expected price of $410.