What will it be like to communicate in the ‘human-machine era’?

Watch our animations and tell us what you think, then see what others have said!

Would you trust a machine to translate for you at a business meeting, or on a date? Would you let a machine read your thoughts to ‘talk’ without words?

Our animations below cover a range of scenarios we are likely to face as a new generation of wearable technologies transform the way we use language.

The four videos have been produced in collaboration between LITHME and the creative agencies Kala Ruudus (Estonia) and The Loupe (Luxembourg).

To see more about how all these new language technologies are likely to develop, check out our free forecast report.

Together with these animations, LITHME has launched an international online survey. Let us know what you think and see what others are saying! Follow the links with each animation below to complete each part of the survey.

1. Augmented conversation and automated translation

The video shows a future scenario of Augmented Reality embedded in a headset, without needing to look at a phone. This future device would translate people speaking other languages in real time, and filter their visual mouth movements to match the translation.

To see more about how this tech is likely to develop, check out our free forecast report.

Animation by: Kala Ruudus


Click to tell us what you think about augmented conversation, and see what others are saying.


Click to tell us what you think about VR language learning with virtual characters, and see what others are saying.

2. Language learning in Virtual Reality

The video shows a future use of Virtual Reality for learning a language – highly intelligent virtual characters, who could practise talking with you at any speed, and would never get bored of repeating things for you.

To see more about how this tech is likely to develop, check out our free forecast report.

Animation by: Kala Ruudus

3. Accessibility and equality in new language technologies

The video shows some possible inequalities with future language technologies, for example how well they work in sign language and smaller languages. The human-machine era will come with a lot of important ethical questions.

To see more about how this tech is likely to develop, check out our free forecast report.

Animation by: The Loupe


Click to tell us what you think about accessibility and equality of future language tech, and see what others are saying.


Click to tell us what you think about brain-machine interfaces and ‘mind-reading’ technologies, and see what others are saying.

4. Mind-reading technology, and talking without speaking

This video shows technologies that are currently in development, for translating brain signals into words, or even allow communication without words. As the tech develops, this could work with only a small sensor cap, or hidden sensors elsewhere.

To see more about how this tech is likely to develop, check out our free forecast report.

Animation by: The Loupe

Scroll to Top
Skip to content