Invention inspiration
Born in Kenya, Roy Allela became famous in 2019, when he invented a pair of gloves which helps deaf people to communicate.
Allela’s six year old niece was born deaf. She found it hard to talk to her family, as none of them knew how to use sign language, which is used by deaf people to make words and letters using your hands. When Allela was 25, he invented a pair of ‘smart gloves’ which make sign language movements into speech which you can hear.
Sign-IO Success
The gloves Allela invented are called Sign-IO. They have sensors in each finger, which pick up the movements of the person wearing them. They then use Bluetooth to send the information to a mobile phone. The phone has an app which turns the movements into speech, which the phone can play out loud.
Allela tested the gloves out at a school for deaf children in Migori county in Southwest Kenya. The children testing them helped him make them better. Allela wants the gloves to come in many different designs, so that children can get them with their favourite characters on. He hopes that the gloves can help 34 million children around the world who are deaf.