A Kenyan engineer proves how family is often the best source of inspiration.
For those who are deaf or hearing impaired there’s a new product on the market that may revolutionize their ability to communicate with people who don’t know sign language. Sign-IO gloves are the genius invention of a Kenyan engineer, 25-year-old Roy Allela, that can help deaf people find their voice.
Allela’s design uses sensors placed in the gloves that detect any movement in the fingers. The sensors transfer the movements through a Bluetooth connection to an android phone which then translates the sign language into audible conversation. This means that the slightest bend of the finger can be turned into audible speech.
The motivation behind Allela’s design comes from wanting to help his niece, who is deaf, communicate properly. “My niece wears the gloves, pairs them with her phone or mine, then starts signing. I’m able to understand what she’s saying,” the engineer shared with The Guardian. Thanks to her ability to lip read, Allela and his family don’t need to sign back.
What is also interesting about the design is that the young innovator was able to make adjustments after piloting the product in a special needs school, for those who sign at different speeds. Just as people speak at different speeds, people sign at different rates, too.