A Kenyan inventor has created a groundbreaking translation app that will bridge the communication gap between deaf and hearing people. The Terp 360 uses AI-powered 3D avatars that translate spoken words into visual signs in real time, allowing users to communicate without relying on human interpreters.

The inventor in question, Elly Savatia, won the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation from the U.K.’s Royal Academy of Engineering, receiving 50,000 pounds for his work. The award honors African entrepreneurs using technology to tackle real-world challenges. Judges praised Savatia for developing a solution that could transform communication for millions across the continent.

Deaf people in Kenya often struggle to access education, jobs, and health care because few people know sign language, and interpreters are costly or unavailable. Terp 360 aims to change that by making sign language translation available anytime, anywhere.

The app can currently translate English and Swahili into Kenyan Sign Language, with plans to include other African and global sign languages by 2027. Savatia hopes his innovation will make inclusion truly universal.

Yesel Kang
Copy Editor
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