Kenyan entrepreneur Elly Savatia has won the prestigious Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation for his groundbreaking app, Terp 360, which translates speech into sign language using AI-powered 3D avatars. This innovative tool, akin to Google Translate for sign language, allows real-time communication for the deaf community without relying on expensive human interpreters. Savatia was awarded £50,000 ($67,000) by the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering on October 16 in Dakar, Senegal, underscoring the potential of African innovation to tackle significant challenges.
Terp 360, developed with input from the deaf community, records over 2,300 signs and aims to expand its language capabilities to include various African and global sign languages by 2027. The app addresses accessibility issues faced by deaf individuals in education and employment, demonstrating a commitment to social impact and inclusivity. This solution not only empowers users but also exemplifies the ability of African tech to bring about transformative change in communication.
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