Auracast™ Broadcast Audio Enables
the Pioneering of Real-Time Language
Translation SolutionsAuracast™ ブロードキャスト オーディオで実現する新世代の同時通訳ソリューション

In an increasingly interconnected world, language barriers continue to pose significant challenges for global communication and cultural exchange. Toshiba, a long-standing promoter company in the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), is pioneering innovative solutions that combine AI simultaneous interpretation with Auracast™ broadcast audio technology, creating new possibilities for breaking down language barriers in public spaces and educational settings.

I recently spoke with Mr. Koji Kurose from Toshiba Information Systems (Japan) Corporation about how their work with Auracast™ broadcast audio is transforming the way we experience and share information across languages. As both a hardware and software solutions provider in this space, Toshiba offers unique insight into how Bluetooth^® technology is enabling a future where language differences no longer impede global connection and understanding.

Q&A With Mr. Koji Kurose From Toshiba

What has been your involvement in the development of an Auracast™ solution?

As a promoter company in the Bluetooth SIG, we provide hardware engineering work on the transmitter side and Bluetooth assistants on the smartphone side so that manufacturers can participate in projects using Auracast™ solutions.

What influence will Auracast™ solutions have on the consumer market?

As an engineering company, we provide both hardware and software support to help customers and users achieve the desired functionality in their Auracast™ solution, including broadcast, multi-stream, and low latency functionality.

To help people understand these features, we demonstrated AI simultaneous interpretation into multiple languages to show that the world has become a place where words spoken at any time, extemporaneously or atypically, can be simultaneously translated into various languages and, thanks to Auracast™ broadcast audio, can be broadcasted in public facilities and educational settings. We believe that this kind of usage will not only help inbound travelers to have a better experience in Japan, but will also encourage many people to venture out into the world despite language barriers.

What has been the reaction of people who have experienced the Auracast™ translation solution?

Most were surprised to learn that the response time is as fast as that of a human simultaneous interpreter, that they can freely choose from multiple broadcasts, and that AI translation is now available.

We received reports of users noticing the distinctive audio latency improvements that Auracast™ broadcast audio provides, and there is growing excitement around how everyday audio devices can now help overcome language barriers, which have long been a challenge for many people raised in Japan who seek to work internationally. As Auracast™ broadcast audio becomes more widespread, it will enable more and more people to speak in their preferred language while being translated in real time into the language preferred by their listeners, breaking new ground in the future of interpersonal communication.

Why did you choose Auracast™ broadcast audio over other wireless technologies?

Bluetooth technology is already in smartphones around the world, making it easy for anyone to use. And, with Auracast™ broadcast audio, multiple channels can be used with low latency. Furthermore, we believe that Bluetooth technology is the only choice in this area, where simultaneous responses are required from everyone.

What role do you think Bluetooth technology will play in the future of audio technology as a whole?

When listening to music, Bluetooth technology frees us from the constraints of cables, and active noise canceling provides an even more immersive experience. In addition to immersion, Auracast™ broadcast audio will allow us to share our audio with friends and loved ones around us. In the future, Bluetooth technology will make it possible to switch between immersive and realistic experiences as needed, and AI voice assistance will be used to detect danger and obtain information in advance to better support people on the go.