ROC Speak
- Pre-Seed
An automated system that can provide feedback in improving public speaking skills with the privacy of a computer browser.
Communication is the key to being successful. Having strong soft skills can positively impact the trajectory of career for any individual. Many people desire to improve their soft skills, but due to lack of resources, and stigma, they are unable to do so.
Imagine a computer program that can automatically help you improve your soft skills. You could go to a computer browser, enable your webcam and practice giving a speech. Within minutes, you receive automated feedback on characteristics of your smile, volume modulation, filler word usage, body gestures and intonation. The system is automated, objective, repeatable and respectful.
The best way to improve your communication skills is to practice with an expert. However, having an access to an expert is expensive specially for the underprivileged community. Having a computer browser that can automatically give you feedback on your communication skills whenever you, wherever you want can potentially transform the way communication skills are being taught.
Having good communication skills is the core of being a human and the most essential skills to obtain meaningful employment. The idea introduced in this pitch addresses it.
Public speaking is the number 1 fear in the entire world. Being able to effectively speak and express your thoughts are the core foundations of any human skills. Improving such skills require attending specialized workshops. There is also stigma associated with seeking such help.
This work was initiated at MIT through my PhD thesis “Computers to Help with Conversations: Affective Framework to Enhance Human Nonverbal Skills”. The project was the first of its kind to show that it is possible for people to improve social skills by interacting with a conversational system. This work was showcased at the MIT Museum as one of the most unconventional inventions at MIT. The thesis received the Best Paper Award at UbiComp 2013 as well as widespread press coverage through Canadian National TV, National Public Radio (NPR), the Wall Street Journal, and the MIT Tech Review, among others.
A ubiquitous tool that can improve people's communication skills.
Anyone who is willing to improve their social skills will be benefited.
The system is currently available online at rocspeak.com
Track the number of uses in the website - 1 million people will use it
- Adult
- Low-income economies (< $1005 GNI)
- Secondary
- Short-cycle tertiary
- Non-binary
- Middle East and North Africa
- US and Canada
- Digital systems (machine learning, control systems, big data)
There are no automated tools out there for the underprivileged population to help them improve their communication skills.
Our solution is targeted to combat an important need of people -- communication skills. These skills particularly important for individuals from the undeserved communities to combat stereotypes.
Through a web-browser (e.g., Google Chrome)
- United States
Continue to apply for more opportunities.
Come up with a business plan to charge a subscription fee to the users if they intend to open up an account and track their progress. The basic usage remains free.
Massive deployment requires a technical overhaul. Our solution is a lab prototype for now. Having a million people use it would require more infrastructure.
- 5+ years
- 3-6 months
- 3-6 months
http://hoques.com/Publications/2013/13.Hoque-etal-MACH-UbiComp.pdf
https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1704/1704.08735.pdf
- Technology Access
- Human+Machine
- 21st Century Skills
- Behavioral / Mental Health
The solution that I am proposing can not undertaken only by me. I need to find the right set of people, and take advantage of a network to make this idea a reality. I am hoping that SOLVE can provide it.
University of Rochester.
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