Localising Manufacturing for More Affordable Assistive Devices for Sign Language Users and Non-verbal Individuals

本地化制造，为手语用户和非语言个体提供更实惠的辅助设备

• 批准号: 10058512
• 金额: $ 6.37万
• 依托单位: BRIGHTSIGN TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Grant for R&D
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=10058512
• 关键词: Localising; Manufacturing; More; Affordable; Assistive

Our research focuses on developing assistive technologies to contribute to the healthcare innovation industry. We work closely with special educational needs schools in the UK to develop communication technologies to help their students overcome every day challenges. The latest of which is a sensor-based data glove that can be used as a communication aid, all the features were developed based on a group of non-verbal students and their needs. The end result was a smart glove that uses advanced machine learning software, programmed to translate custom hand gestures to text and speech, in personalised voices and in any language.Observing a clear gap in the market and a high need for such technology, BrightSign was founded in 2017, a wearable technology start-up developing innovations that enable communication for individuals with non-verbal disabilities. The company has since been actively engaged with schools, to implement the technology and enable the inclusion of Deaf and children diagnosed with Autism and/or are on the spectrum. We also collaborate, on an ongoing bases, with speech clinics to provide communication means to the ageing population who cannot speak due to losing their hearing overtime or an onset of illness, and require custom gesture recognition.BrightSign gained recognition by IBM, MIT and AXA as a pioneering innovation in social care, digital healthcare and community impact. Our first product is BrightSign Glove, a smart glove wired with wearable sensors to recognise and translate custom hand gestures into speech in 40 languages. This can include but not limited to Sign Language which can be spoken out in more than 280 voices, so every user can use the voice that best matches their language, accent and gender .This project is dedicated to bringing the manufacturing of the core hardware technology behind the BrightSign glove into the UK, that being the wearable stretch sensors. This will serve to increase the quality and accuracy of the glove, reduce the cost, and allow us to expand into other countries. It will also make this technology accessible to a wider range of the non-verbal population, estimated at 230 million around the world, who needs it to experience greater independence in everyday communication and to be included at school, work or for socialising, positively impacting their quality of life.

我们的研究重点是开发辅助技术，为医疗创新行业做出贡献。我们与英国有特殊教育需求的学校密切合作，开发通信技术，帮助他们的学生克服日常挑战。其中最新的是一种基于传感器的数据手套，可以用作交流辅助工具，所有功能都是根据一群非语言学生和他们的需求开发的。最终的结果是一款智能手套，它使用了先进的机器学习软件，通过编程将定制的手势翻译成文本和语音，以个性化的声音和任何语言。BrightSign成立于2017年，是一家可穿戴技术初创公司，旨在开发创新，使非语言障碍人士能够进行交流。BrightSign是市场上的一个明显空白，对这种技术的需求很高。自那以后，该公司一直积极与学校合作，实施这项技术，并使聋人和被诊断为自闭症和/或患有自闭症的儿童能够参与进来。我们还与语音诊所持续合作，为因超时失聪或疾病发作而无法说话的老年人口提供沟通手段，并需要自定义手势识别。BrightSign获得了IBM、麻省理工学院和AXA的认可，被认为是社会护理、数字医疗和社区影响方面的开创性创新。我们的第一款产品是BrightSign Glove，这是一款智能手套，配有可穿戴传感器，可以识别定制的手势，并将其翻译成40种语言的语音。这包括但不限于手语，它可以用280多种声音说出，所以每个用户都可以使用与他们的语言、口音和性别最匹配的声音。该项目致力于将BrightSign手套背后的核心硬件技术--可穿戴式拉伸传感器--的制造引入英国。这将有助于提高手套的质量和精度，降低成本，并使我们能够扩展到其他国家。它还将使更广泛的非语言人口获得这项技术，据估计全球有2.3亿人，他们需要这项技术来体验日常交流的更大独立性，并被纳入学校、工作或社交，对他们的生活质量产生积极影响。