RogerVoice, a startup based in Paris, provides real-time mobile phone communications capabilities for deaf or hearing-impaired users. I have several family members, both young and old, who have severe hearing issues so I find this application of technology very compelling.

In a conversation with Sidney Burks, cofounder and CTO of RogerVoice, I learned how the mobile phone application delivers completely automated, real-time transcription of conversations to help augment the limited hearing capabilities of a user. Through a combination of fast and accurate speech transcription providing subtitles for phone conversations in real-time, the RogerVoice application can create a rich dialog between users.

How it works is elegant: Simply download the app, install, then make a call. The receiver of the call on the other end will be alerted to speak a bit slower, and that the conversation is being recorded and automatically transcribed. The originating caller will in fact hear the audio, to the extent they can, and then text will be presented in real-time on the screen as a conversation. This is a leap forward in providing rich, real-time transcription of audio in a mobile phone experience.

The RogerVoice application is expected to launch in the U.S. and globally early next year. Currently the app supports a variety of languages including, English, Spanish, French, Japanese, Mandarin and others. RogerVoice is still working on pricing models, and distribution will be through mobile app marketplaces such as iTunes and Google Play.

RogerVoice is in an early-funding stage, having recently received funding from the French government and through a Kickstarter campaign. To view a promotional video demo of their product, go to www.rogervoice.com.

Categories: Conversational Intelligence, Articles, Mobile + Location

Tags: RogerVoice, Hearing impairment