Current Date: 16 Jan, 2026
{{entry.title}}

Kenyan Innovator Creates Smart Gloves That Translate Sign Language Into Audible Speech

In 2023, a Kenyan inventor Roy Allela invented smart gloves that can convert sign language movements into audio speech, for his six years old niece who was born deaf.

Roy Allela, a 25-year-old inventor, is genuinely changing lives through his passion for contemporary technology.

Sign-IO smart gloves were created by an Oxford University data science tutor and tech enthusiast to facilitate easy communication with the deaf community.

Seventy million people speak over 300 sign languages, but only a small percentage of people worldwide are able to understand them. There is now a barrier separating the deaf community from the general public due to this lack of understanding.

Allela was motivated to design gloves after witnessing firsthand the challenges of communicating with his deaf 6-year-old niece.

In an interview, Allela stated, “My niece puts on the gloves, connects them to her phone or mine, and then begins signing, and I can understand what she’s saying.”

The revolutionary gloves translate sign language gestures into audible speech by using flex sensors on each finger. Every sensor processes the letters being signed and measures the fingers’ bend. Clever, huh?

Once synchronized, users can connect the gloves to the app through Bluetooth. The app then translates the movements into letters, making communication easier for both parties.

Smart Gloves That Translate Sign Language Into Audible Speech 1
Image 1 = Photo credit: peopleofcolorintech.com

Reports state that 70 million individuals globally suffer from hearing impairments of some kind. Even though sign language is the most efficient means of communication with the deaf community, very few people in the world are able to understand it.

The deaf community and those who are not familiar with sign language are separated by this lack of understanding. Roy Allela, a Kenyan inventor, hopes to address this with his most recent creation.

Allela continued, “We integrated that into the mobile application so that it’s comfortable for anyone to use. People speak at different speeds, and it’s the same with people who sign.”

To help teachers better understand their students, the inventor has also implemented the invention in special needs schools located in rural Kenya.

Users can select both the vocalization pitch and their native language via the app. Allela claims that the results are likewise 93% accurate.

Many publications have taken notice of Roy’s intelligent gloves. Even the American Society of Mechanical Engineers awarded the Kenyan inventor a prize.

Similar Stories
How Magic Johnson Missed Out On $7 Billion Nike deal

How Magic Johnson Missed Out On $7 Billion Nike deal

Magic Johnson turned down a deal with Nike in 1979 that offered him 100,000 shares of stock and $1 for every pair of shoes sold. Instead, he chose Converse, which offered him $100,000 per year. Johnson lost about $5 billion by declining the Nike deal.

Why Is the N Lowercase in 7-Eleven?

Why Is the N Lowercase in 7-Eleven?

7-ELEVEN is thought to have a lowercase "n" in its logo because the company president's wife believed that a logo with all caps would seem harsh, while a lowercase "n" would make it more graceful.

Australian man dies, comes back to life, and wins the lottery twice

Australian man dies, comes back to life, and wins the lottery twice

Bill Morgan, an Australian, is a man who has beat the odds. He escaped death by surviving a horrific automobile accident and heart attack before collapsing into a coma and going on to win the lotto twice. He went from losing virtually everything to winning far more than he could have imagined.

How hero parrot saved little girl who was choking on her breakfast

How hero parrot saved little girl who was choking on her breakfast

In 2008 Quaker parrot Willie alerted his owner Megan Howard when the little girl she was babysitting began to choke. Howard was in the bathroom when the parrot repeatedly yelled "Mama! Baby!" flapping his wings. Megan rushed and performed the Heimlich maneuver, saving her life. Willie received the Red Cross Animal Lifesaver Award.

The world’s longest flight spent more than two months in the air

The world’s longest flight spent more than two months in the air

Roberts Timm and Jim Cook, two pilots, flew an aircraft for more than two months without landing in 1958. Matching the speed of a truck moving down the road to refuel. A mattress for sleeping, a small steel sink for personal hygiene, the removal of most interior fittings to reduce weight, and a basic autopilot were among the improvements.

Abraham Crijnssen – The Ship That Disguised Itself As An Island

Abraham Crijnssen – The Ship That Disguised Itself As An Island

During World War II a Dutch minesweeper evaded the Japanese for eight days disguised as an island. The crew covered the decks in cut trees and painted exposed surfaces to look like rocks. They moved only at night and anchored closed to shore by day, eventually escaping to Australia.

Billy Ray Harris: A Story of Kindness and Honesty

Billy Ray Harris: A Story of Kindness and Honesty

In 2013, a homeless man named Billy Ray Harris discovered a $4,000 engagement ring in this cup. A woman had dropped while giving him some change. He returned the ring to her two days later. To thank him for his honesty, she set up a fund with the goal of raising $4,000 for him. It earned more than $185,000.

China Weather Control on 2008 Olympics with missile

China Weather Control on 2008 Olympics with missile

One thing is certain: when it comes to ensuring nice weather for the world's largest party, the Chinese cannot be accused of being subtle. The Chinese government authorized the use of 1,104 cloud seeding missile launches from 4:00-11:39 p.m. on Friday night to reduce the possibility of rain ahead of the 29th Olympic opening ceremony in Beijing