Where VM-FI all started

The establishment of VM-FI predates the name VM-FI representing a company; back then, it was a product—their first translation device. 

Before the product was released to market, VM-FI CEO Maxwell Peng led the company to a bright start, earning the ResorTech Grand Prix Award in 2020. The innovation of a software application that can transform any mobile device into a wireless translation guide received recognition in Okinawa and across Japan, a country with heavy tourism and a population that primarily speaks Japanese. This achievement enabled them to enter the tourism market and launch their first long-term project at Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan. The product (Trans-Original) operated on one user’s audio input and multiple audio outputs in other languages, supporting up to 40 device connections simultaneously. This was the ideal tour guide technology for attractions that combined the language fluency of pre-recorded audio with the immersive experience of in-person conversations. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEdoMDPw3qw

During the early stages of COVID-19’s outbreak, their product (Trans-Original) addressed major concerns about sanitation and health hazards. Their application allowed users to transform their own devices into real-time translators, eliminating the need to share public earpieces that might not be sanitized completely. Furthermore, the wireless setting allowed tourists to maintain a safe distance of up to 2 meters while still hearing the tour guide’s instructions and introductions. After multiple trials of in-person testing and feedback collection, VM-FI perfected the Trans-Original by answering the three main problems they faced. Firstly, how can they extend a single audio input to multiple audio outputs wirelessly and simultaneously? The solution to that was simple. The tourists need to download the Trans-Original app on their mobile phones and connect to the Wi-Fi box the tour guide will carry. This allows each user to connect their own earpieces to their phones and select the language they wish to receive the guide in.

The second problem was: how can they achieve near-seamless efficiency? This is one of the most important issues to address. Since tour guides operate by constantly moving from place to place, with the pacing of their dialogue adjusted to the environment, a lag in translation would result in a negative user experience. VM-FI resolved this problem by switching from 4G to 5G, which improved time efficiency by three. Lastly, they faced the common question: how to achieve maximum translation accuracy. This is where they decided to introduce the word-bank editing function. The Trans-Original has built-in settings that allow users to edit the word bank themselves and tailor it to their areas of expertise or preference. 

With all the technicalities and logistics adjusted to meet the needs of real-life applications, the use of the Trans-Original at Sun Moon Lake became a long-term partnership. VM-FI continued their outreach across several other cities in Taiwan, including paid implementations in Changhua, Nantou, Ximending, and Tamsui. As tourists quoted in interviews said: “If I had to use three phrases to describe it (the translator), it would be that the process is simple, convenient, and accurate.” Another stated that, “I’d like to use the Chinese word 「收」(gather) to represent this tool. We can use this device to gather all sorts of information and knowledge. Expanding on just tourism, their technology could also enhance educational learning”. With unanimous positive feedback from anonymous tourists, the need to develop communications technology became apparent. 

Unfortunately, in 2022, the world was hit with the worst of COVID-19’s Omicron variant, which led to restrictions on tourism across and within countries. However, this was not the end of VM-FI’s development. Following their first successful product, they shifted their market focus and continued to expand the use of their technology to make cross-language communication more efficient and convenient.