An excuse to drop French class?

A developer in the U.K. says that new technology could make foreign language classes obsolete.

He’s talking about Project Glass, Google’s upcoming augmented reality glasses. While wearing the glasses, an interface hovers in your field of view and interacts with the world around you while also performing the kinds of tasks that smart phones handle.

In other words, the glasses will give you a viewpoint that’s much like what a T-800 from Terminator would see (but hopefully with better app. support).

With one of the wealthiest companies venturing into Skynet territory, people are excited by the possibilities. I mean, you’ll basically be wearing The Matrix on your face. They’re also throwing around a lot of conspiracy theories.

Will Powell, a computer programmer, is planning a less sinister app. That is, assuming you’re not a foreign languages teacher. It’s capable of translating real-time conversations, providing the user with subtitles in the interface of the glasses. He says it could make language courses obsolete.

Related Posts

Inside the student-led movements urging Canadian universities to divest from fossil fuels

University students across Canada are frustrated by the slow pace of halting dangerous climate change, and they are wielding their power to do something about it

The grassroots food insecurity initiatives putting an end to the ’starving student’

Student and admin-led efforts are leading the charge to stop food insecurity on Canadian university campuses

Why would anyone learn a new language if they can just pop on a pair of glasses?

Well, a couple reasons. The glasses will reportedly cost $1,500 and who knows how well they’re work? I’d say you’re better off keeping French in your timetable, at least in the foreseeable future.

Follow @maconcampus and @ScottyDobson on Twitter. Click to like us on Facebook.