We at Hawksley always keep an eye out for cutting-edge technological advancements. Especially for ones that effectively help members of a certain disadvantaged community in living their lives to the fullest.
Enter BrightSign™.
BrightSign is an assistive technology startup lead by Hadeel Ayoub and Ed Hill. Hadeel is the founder of the company; she's an innovator, researcher and entrepreneur with a PhD in Machine Learning, and a master’s degree in Human Computer Interaction. She's been working on the development of the BrightSign Glove since 2016, overcoming each and every challenge that came her way.
Ed is the CEO of BrightSign, he is a talented computer scientist and entrepreneur with a passion for new projects involving different programming languages.
The glove that this team has designed translates signs into ANY spoken language, therefore allowing deaf people to interact with other members of the public who don't understand sign language. It’s hard to imagine just in how many situations this technology could be useful, if not lifesaving.
So how does it work exactly?
As compared to previous models built for a similar purpose, the BrightGlove is significantly more accurate due to its clever architecture. It’s a glove that actually learns from its user!
In short, its sensors pick up on angles, spatial positioning, and the pace of signing. The user starts training the glove by recording the signs individually. Once enough signs are collected, the glove can be put to use.
Based on advanced machine learning algorithms, the glove makes quick predictions on what the signer is trying to express. Reportedly, the accuracy rate of these “guesses” is currently around 97%! Furthermore, the longer the glove is used, the more accurate these predictions become.
Wider implications
The importance of the communication bridge that this product offers cannot be understated!
Firstly, not only does this piece of equipment enable people with impaired hearing to have smoother daily interactions, but it can also improve their perceived self-image and enhance their creative output.
In other words, communication is key. This is a cliché of course, but it’s true on multiple levels. The practice of this highly significant skill begins in childhood. It is a crucial part of any educational system to involve children in cooperative exercises that require students of various backgrounds - with different communication styles- to attune to each other.
Thus, children can gradually learn to express their own ideas whilst also listening to others'. An innovation like the BrightGlove is aimed to accomplish exactly that. Being a tool that enables more involved and intimate forms of communication between deaf children and their peers, thereby improving self-esteem, mental health, sociality and as a follow on, academic performance.
The reasons listed above are why we want to expand the reach of this product even further. First, by conducting some research that investigates the mid- to long-term benefits that it offers to deaf students, and (indirectly) to their peers.
This study will be carried out by a multi-disciplinary research team, and it aims to (1) explore the qualitative differences that this technology brings into its users' lives as well as to (2) measure the potential improvement in their academic performance.
We are currently at the stage of applying for funding on various platforms to bring this research idea to life. Schools and other educational institutions would be our main focus.
Unlike other high-end assistive technology tech brands', BrightSign's glove was put on the market with a more affordable pricing, making it the most accessible product of its category. Considering that there are 87,000 deaf people in the UK alone (according to RNID), the accessibility of affordable assistive technology should be a priority.
Later on, we are hoping to work with local authorities as well as NHS trusts and individual users to deliver this piece of technology to as many students with hearing or speaking disabilities as possible.