Current Date: 12 Jul, 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
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.

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.

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.

24-year-old burglar beaten by retired boxer victim

24-year-old burglar beaten by retired boxer victim

A 24-year-old knife-wielding burglar attempted to get into the home of a 72-year-old senior in Oxford, England, in 2009, but was left battered, bruised, and pinned to the ground. Frank Corti, the elderly, turned out to be a former boxing champion.

How 'Brad's Drink' Became Pepsi-Cola

How 'Brad's Drink' Became Pepsi-Cola

Pepsi was first introduced as “Brad’s Drink” in New Bern, North Carolina, United States, in 1893 by Caleb Bradham, who made it at his drugstore where the drink was sold. It was renamed Pepsi Cola in 1898, named after the digestive enzyme pepsin and kola nuts used in the recipe.

Mystery of 300-year-old mummified mermaid is being probed

Mystery of 300-year-old mummified mermaid is being probed

There is a 300-year-old mummified mermaid with 30 centimetres tall and features a human-like head, two hands with what appear to be fingernails, and its lower body that look like a fish tail. The “mermaid mummy” is being probed by Japanese scientists in an attempt to unravel the mystery of its existence.

Before "The Rock," There Was "Rocky Maivia"

Before "The Rock," There Was "Rocky Maivia"

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s first WWF persona was Rocky Maivia, a face (good guy). The audience rejected him due to his cheesy character, with chants of “Die, Rocky, die!”. After this, he became a heel (villain), referring to himself in the third person as “The Rock” and insulting the audience.

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.