App translates speech to sign language, wins top innovation prize
Listen to the story (American accent)
A man in Kenya made a special app. The man's name is Elly Savatia. The app is called Terp 360.
The app helps people communicate. It changes words people say into sign language. It uses a 3D avatar to show the sign language.
Savatia said the app is like a "Google Translate for sign language." People can talk without a human interpreter.
Savatia won a prize called the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation. The prize gave him £50,000.
Savatia said deaf people in Kenya often have problems. It is hard for them to go to a doctor or university. Many workers do not know sign language.
Human interpreters cost too much money. Also, there are not enough interpreters.
Savatia wants Terp 360 to help companies and workers. With the app, more deaf people can work at companies.
Deaf people in Kenya helped make the app. They recorded more than 2,300 signs. The app translates English and Swahili into Kenyan Sign Language. Savatia wants to add more languages later.
Vocabulary16 words
- App (application)
- computer software/program, especially for smartphones and tablets
- Called
- Named; To give something a name
- Communicate
- To share your thoughts or information with others, like talking or writing messages
- Sign language
- A way to talk using your hands and body movements, used mainly by deaf people
- 3D Avatar
- A computer-made character that represents a real person; A computer-created version of someone
- Show
- To display or present something; to share; to let people see something
- Without
- Not having something
- Human
- a person; a man, woman or child
- Interpreter
- A person who changes words from one language into another
- Prize
- A reward or gift that you get for winning a competition
- Deaf
- Not being able to hear sounds, or hearing very little
- Enough
- Having what is needed or sufficient; plenty; a good amount; abundant
- Record
- To capture or save information; (record music or sound; record video; 🔴)
- Sign
- To make shapes with your hands to show words or ideas
- Translate
- To change words from one language to another
- Kenyan
- from or related to Kenya;
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A _____ in Kenya made a special app. The man's _____ is Elly Savatia. The app is called Terp 360.
The _____ helps people communicate. It changes _____ people say into sign language. It uses a _____ avatar to show the sign _____ .
Savatia said the app is _____ a "Google Translate for sign language." _____ can talk without a human interpreter.
Savatia _____ a prize called the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation. _____ prize gave him £50,000.
Savatia said deaf _____ in Kenya often have problems. It is hard for them to _____ to a doctor or university. Many workers do _____ know sign language.
Human interpreters _____ too much money. Also, there are not _____ interpreters.
Savatia wants Terp 360 to help _____ and workers. With the app, more deaf people can work _____ companies.
Deaf people in Kenya helped _____ the app. They recorded more than _____ signs. The app translates English and Swahili _____ Kenyan Sign Language. Savatia wants to add more languages _____ .
Discussion questions
- Do you think the Terp 360 app is a good way for deaf people to talk to a doctor or teacher? Why?
- The man won money for his app. How do you think he should use this money to help more people?
- Why do you think it is important for companies to hire deaf people?
- If the app had more languages, would it help deaf people in many other countries? How?
- Do you think using a 3D avatar is better than using a human interpreter? What is good or bad about each?
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