Japan – Language is often a problem when someone communicating with people from other countries. A ‘glasses’ in the interpreter will facilitate communication. Like what?

Is NEC, a Japanese technology companies that refine the tool. Shaped like sunglasses, but without the lens, Tele-thus the name Scouter this tool will help those who wear it to understand the language of his interlocutor.

Requirement is two people who were talking to wear these glasses. The translation will be available instantly via voice and text, like subtitles in a movie.

“You can make the conversation flowing. The device can be used in an important conversation,” said NEC’s market development officer, Takayuki Omino, as quoted from the AFP, Friday (6/11/2009).

With the presence of this tool, both parties involved in the talks does not require the services of a human interpreter, so the confidentiality of conversations can be more awake.

How it works, every word a speaker will be captured by a microphone, translated by translators and translation software will be available, either in the form of text and audio. This means users can still look for the text talking translators will only projected onto the retina.

For the initial stage, Tele Scouter will be launched in Japan, November next year, but without the translator. Tele Scouter without translators can be used by people in sales, in a way connected camera, face detection software and client database to store information about the history of consumer purchases.

Meanwhile, Tele Scouter translator equipped with a new plan will be launched in the year 2011.

By now, most people have heard the term ‘crackberry’, referring to the addiction which comes along with owning a Blackberry. Now that other companies have joined the smartphone bandwagon, there is a new term for smartphone addicts. Smartphoniacs, a new turn of phrase for the next wave of global technological addiction. Video game addicts may have started the tech addiction trend, but today it is the great smartphone ‘pandemic’ of the new millennium. Anywhere and everywhere you are these days; someone is checking emails, texting, browsing, or tweeting.

Not since the invention of the television has the world changed their lifestyle habits as much as with the invention of the smartphone. It has been said that by 2012, 500 million people worldwide will be using a smartphone. From that 500 million people, 10% of users will become addicted in this new information age. Psychologists and trades people alike have tried to find the reason some may become addicted and others not. At this time, it seems to be described as – an anxiety driven social disconnection, or basically, the fear of missing something, anything, if you are not connected. All around the world, there are people who at this very moment are feeling the deep seeded need to connect. In a recent American poll, 42% of teens can text with their eyes closed. In fact, last year a 15 year old girl in the United States was given the prestigious honor of being the fastest texter in the country  they give awards for that now. She texted 500 times a day, and was awarded a $50,000 grand prize. Actual phone calls have dropped in recent years, apparently people of this new information age would rather text or email instead of talk.

Smartphones have become a social status symbol which makes it even harder to quit. There were approximately 139.3 million smartphones sold around the world last year. In the U.S. alone, people report using their smartphones more now than they did 3 months ago. With stats like these, there seems to be a worldwide ‘pandemic’ occurring. Experts at Rutgers University state that smartphone addiction is on the rise at an alarming rate. It is an addiction as hard to quit as drugs. Up to 49% of users asked, say they keep their phone next to their beds so they can listen for messages even while they sleep. If that is not addiction, what is? Whatever your ‘trigger’- phantom rings, having 5 or more email accounts, having to check your inbox incessantly, having over 30 different apps installed, having alarms telling when it’s time to do anything, or simply reading about your phone, on your phone  you may have an addiction.

If you find yourself falling into any of the above categories, there is help. It did not take long for the Dr. Phil is of the world to jump in and offer helpful advice to any smartphoniac. There are SA (smartphone addict) groups cropping up all over the world, as well as many other tech addiction groups, due to the growing need. You are not alone in your quest for connection freedom. As tech trends dictate, in time the price of owning and being connected by a smartphone will cost less. Thus, leading more people down that long dark road of addiction. Will you be next?