In Kenya, a young entrepreneur named Norah Kimathi has developed a robotic hand that converts a teacher’s voice into sign language for students who are deaf. Approximately 300,000 children in the country are deaf or hearing impaired, but only a small number are able to attend school. The lack of a standardized signed language in Kenya makes it hard to teach subjects like math and science. Kimathi started ZeroBionic to help these students learn from teachers who do not know sign language, greatly improving their access to education. Each robotic hand is made from recycled plastic using 3D printing and is sold for $350. They have a lifespan of three years without needing maintenance, and ZeroBionic has already sold 78 devices. Kimathi mentioned that the hands achieve a 92% accuracy rate in speech-to-sign translation. However, creating the mechanical arm was only part of the challenge. When the ZeroBionic team began incorporating the sign translations, they found out there was no common dataset for Kenyan or African sign language. To overcome this, they worked with deaf teachers and skilled signers to record the movements of sign language using a special bodysuit with electrodes that had to be imported. Kimathi noted that no one had created such technology on the continent and that their team had to build everything from the ground up. She acknowledged that all their hard work has been rewarding, as they aim to bring happiness to others. The robotic arms are just the beginning, as they plan to develop Africa One, a robotic upper torso that would enhance the accuracy and vocabulary of African sign language. What do you think about this innovative approach to education?
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Source: Good News Network, by Good News Network