I Hear U Android Application

Illiteracy, discrimination, isolation, and lack of oppotunities for the persons with disability is the problem I am trying to solve. More specifically, the hearing-impaired individuals.

I created an application that will teach these individuals to communicate well. This application can be used to message anyone who knows how to read, but doesn't require the receiver to know sign language nor the hearing-impaired to expertise sign language.

There are 360 million (recorded) hearing impaired individuals across the globe. Moreover, hearing loss in children is most prevalent in Southeast Asian countries. Research revealed that 90-95% of hearing-impaired (HI) individuals in the Philippines were unemployed (Discovering Deaf Worlds organization, 2015). One of the reasons is that most of them are illiterate. HI children in the country do not learn any language unless they have deaf family members or they go to school.

Problems to be Solved:

1.) Illiteracy rate with Deaf people are high in South East Asia and other parts of the globe. Thus ceasing opportunities for personal and economical means.

2.) Discrimination.

3.) Lack of social awareness about the hearing-impaired and deaf individuals. Especially, lack of equality among them.

4.) Inadequate opportunities for children, women, or adult deaf individuals due to the combination of factors.

Hearing-impaired pupils from the Special Education (SPED) classes in the local schools were given questionnaires after the demonstration of the application (with the help of their teachers). Through these gathered data, and discussions with the teachers, it was proven in my research the crucial need of apps like this for hearing-impaired individuals.

Consultations and recommendations from concerned individuals are crucial for further development.

SOLUTION:

1. Increase literacy among hearing-impaired individuals through convenient learning both in language and technology.
2. Overcome communication barriers for better opportunities and to mitigate discrimination.
3. Educate the society on how to communicate effectively with persons with special needs/ disability.
4. Encourage institutions and educators to give better support, opportunities, and better treatment to the hearing-impaired/deaf people.
5. Encourage the deaf community to take part in the further development of this app.

HOW IT WORKS:

I Hear U is an android application for hearing-impaired individuals that provides texting through:

a) Short range communications (Free. No charge) Through android built-in features, both parties can send and receive text messages without WiFi or any fees.

b) Short Messaging Service (SMS) for long range communications. This android application allows hearing-impaired individuals to type in texts with symbol/pictures on keyboard and send it to the Bluetooth-paired device in normal print text and vice versa, while ‘Speak’ feature enables deaf to express words in artificial voice. Hence, close communication is a lot easier without the need of an interpreter. In addition, SMS messaging also allows the H.I. to communicate from distant places with the use of fingerspelling and sign language symbols.

My solution is unique because it took me years of research and feedback, trials and errors, and is continuously evolving due to new discoveries and it is feasible to be applied in a larger scale in partnership with institutions, NGO's and government organizations.

Although it is an application, I am looking forward for its integration on different platforms. Communication, language barrier, discrimination, and missed opportunities should decline through tools like I Hear U app to educate and inform the world.

I am not only opening doors of opportunity but also educating the world and show that everybody should be given equal opportunities. It is not only for the welfare of the society, but for the development of our economy.

A good nation takes care of its people.

The solution is an application for smartphones. It uses varieties of features that can be accessed through any versions of android phones such as Bluetooth, SMS, text-to-speech, and more.

Based on the data I have collected, there is a need such innovation for easier learning. Surprisingly, some hearing-impaired individuals have more access to smartphones than access to schools.

Based on the data gathered, the application satisfied its beneficiaries. These tables represents the scores of 30 respondents for the: a.) relevance of app features, b.) user-interface responsiveness, and c.) benefits of offline messaging. Literacy plays huge role in economic progress and I know that this prototype will play a role in economic development.

I consider "barriers" as opportunities. They are a starting point for the continuous improvement and progress.

1.) Exposure. I need to expose my innovation for the world to know. To disseminate information and to inform the public that there are concerned people trying to solve problems. Joining conventions have positive effect and always had, on its development.

2.) Get support. Due to exposure, this project can get support so it can further be pushed forward for its betterment. If the community/public is informed, then they will root for it since it's a project with a purpose. I hope that MIT SOLVE will support it as well.

3.) Funds. This is one of the most crucial part of pushing further an innovation. Through financial assistance, grants or investment, we can develop this project to be more convenient, accessible and so on. Funds will fuel the community outreach of this app and to also inform the public about it. 

4.) Team. I will need a team should this product provide services on a global scale. Working alone on it is tedious and time consuming, so I need other people to work with me to make this happen. Funds can also help. Solve will give me the credentials to be recognized so that I can gain support from the public, thus, inspiring other people to pursue the same goals and mission to make the world a better place for those with hearing disability.

I am the lone creator and developer of this application.

I made research about this. Due to lack of local and international related studies, I collected data myself about the needs of hearing-impared individuals for a software that will help them in their education and communication.

I gained some insights in the past years when I 've entered contests locally and internationally. I always improved my app based on different suggestions.

Department of Science and Technology helped me with the Copyrighting of the application, but for the development alone, I was responsible.

Currently, I am not partnered with any organizations.

My key customers are institutions NGOs, and government organizationsthat cater special education programs for children and individuals with disabilities.

There would be subscriptions and ads for special services and individual usage of the software depending on the contract.

NGOs, government organizations, volunteers, investors for further research, donations, and more would be the ways of this project to continue further and to last for years providing the best solutions for the needs of the stakeholders.

I consider "barriers" as opportunities. They are a starting point for the continuous improvement and progress. I think Solve can help me through with the following:

1.) Exposure. I need to expose my innovation for the world to know. To disseminate information and to inform the public that there are concerned people trying to solve problems. Joining conventions have positive effect and always had, on its development.

2.) Get support. If the community/public is informed, then they will root for it since it's a project with a purpose. I hope that MIT SOLVE will support it as well.

3.) Funds. This is one of the most crucial part of pushing further an innovation. Funds will fuel the community outreach of this app and to also inform the public about it. 

4.) Expert/s. I will need a team should this product provide services on a global scale. Should I need to operate globally, we will need an expert/ experts to guide us on this journey to educate and make the world a better place.

5.) Information Dissemination. If selected, Solve will help me spread the word and hope among the individuals of concern. That is one of the privileges of being selected. I hope that I can be an agent to help ignite the interest of the public, especially children who will be the next innovators.

I'd like to partner with any organizations and individuals who thinks that I have the potential to bring change to the community of people who had always been isolated, deprived, discriminated, and shamed from the society.

I'd like to partner with anybody who can help me utilize my skills to bring the best features integrated on this app for the world to use.

The prize would be greatly beneficial for further research, strategics, feature improvements, community outreach, and collaborations. The application is envisioned to be available in different platforms, not only in android phones but also on others.

Aside from further improvements for the app, I'd use the prize for more research. There are different kinds of hearing-impairment and levels vary through age.

I'd reach out communities, gather them, and introduce to them the application. With their help, I'll know more about the needs of hearing-impaired individuals, and families with such family members. Hoping to improve their literacy and communication abilities through technology.

The prize would be greatly beneficial for further research, strategics, feature improvements, community outreach, and collaborations. The application is envisioned to be available in different platforms, not only in android phones but also on others.

It is important to also empower women in the hearing-impaired community for they are easy target of deceit and people with bad intentions.

Mostly, the funds would be used for application development and community outreach.

If I'd be given a chance, I'd accept it. Although I confess that I have no experience with outreaching refugees, with the help of Solve and other collaborators, I am more than willing to outreach them. Everybody need some help. And if I'd be given a chance, I'd use the funds to also meet them, encourage and empower them and help them discover their potential.