TRENDING NEWS – 25-Year-Old Kenyan Invented Smart Gloves That Convert Sign Language Into Audio Speech


A 25-year-old Kenyan innovator has earned global recognition with his invention of a smart hand that is capable of converting words into speech.

Roy Allela, a technology evangelist, says the need to communicate with his 6-year-old niece, who was born deaf, inspired him to build the technology.

Allela is among 16 young Africans who have been shortlisted by the Royal Academy of Engineering Africa Prize for inventors from six countries to receive funding, training and mentoring for projects intended to revolutionize sectors of agriculture and science to women’s health.

The winner will be awarded Sh3.2 million (£ 25,000) while Sh1.2 million (£ 10,000).

According to Allela, her niece encountered while communicating with members of the family.

AUDIO SPEECH

The smart gloves – dubbed Sign-IO – have flex sensors that are placed on each finger and the capacity to quantify the bend of a finger and process letter signed.

Using Bluetooth, the gloves are connected to a mobile application, which Allela also developed, which then converts the signal into audio speech.

“My niece wears the gloves, I’m able to understand what she’s saying,” says Allela.

Allela said that the speed at which signs are more important than smart gloves.

“People speak at different speeds and it’s the same with people who sign – some are very fast, others slow, so we get into the mobile app so it’s convenient for anyone using it,” he said.

PRECISION RESULTS

Through the app, users are able to set the language, sex and pitch of the audio voice, with an accuracy of 93%.

“Fight the stigma associated with deafness and the impediment of speaking: if the gloves look beautiful, every child will want to know why he wore them,” says Allela.

Allela’s innovation recently won the Hardware Trailblazer award from the prestigious American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) during its ASME Innovation Showcase 2017 (ISHOW) competition.

Allela says she is using the jackpot to make more accurate vocal predictions.


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