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Kenyan Team Tawi Wins Microsoft’s Imagine Cup with Machine Learning APD Technology
Microsoft’s Imagine Cup has honed in this year’s winner, a team named Tawi from Kenya, whose machine learning tools aid kids with auditory processing disorder. Auditory processing disorder affects hearing by making it difficult for the brain to process sound, leading to speech delay, comprehension difficulties, and other everyday complications that result in extra effort and concentration for children. The team’s idea for this app was spurred on by one of its member’s family members, who have auditory processing disorder. Tawi opted out of hearing aids and instead developed an app to suppress external noises, highlight speech, and convert speech to real-time text to be compatible with a child’s specific hearing issues.
What is Auditory Processing Disorder?
Auditory Processing Disorder, or APD, makes it difficult for the brain to process what it hears. People with the disorder can hear sounds perfectly fine, however, their brain’s processing power makes it difficult to turn that sound into meaning. This leads to learning delays and everyday challenges in social and educational settings.
The Development of Tawi
John Onsongo Mabeya, Muna Numan Said, Syntiche Musawu Cishimbi and Zakariya Hussein Hassan formed Tawi and aimed to develop educational technology. When they researched APD, they decided to develop a tool that would work with an ordinary smartphone and headphones rather than costly hearing aids to help tailor the specifics required to the individual child’s needs.
Tawi’s Key Features and Benefits
The team’s app offers noise suppression, speech emphasis, and reinterpreting real-time speech into text to help children with hearing difficulties. Moreover, it can be customised to meet the specific needs of the child. The idea behind the development is for children to participate more fully in educational and social settings, helping to address the needs of the critical community.
Imagine Cup Finalists
- Cardiac Self-Monitoring Tool from Thailand: A device is connected to a smartphone with a stethoscope that automatically detects any anomalies, aiding people in checking themselves effectively.
- Eupnea: This US team uses AI to focus on tuberculosis patients’ cough sounds and help recommend treatment options.
Conclusion
Tawi is a great example of using technology and machine learning to address a significant problem and provide a practical and workable solution. The team’s entrepreneurial spirit and passion for technology led to this dynamic app.
FAQs
What is the Imagine Cup?
The Imagine Cup is Microsoft’s yearly student tech-for-good competition.
What is Auditory Processing Disorder?
Auditory Processing Disorder makes it challenging for the brain to interpret sound, even though an individual has perfect hearing.
What does Tawi offer?
The app suppresses unwanted noise, emphasises speech and translates into real-time text suitable for a child’s unique hearing issues. Furthermore, it is adjustable to individual needs and conforms to the user’s specific hearing requirements.
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