RIYADH: The creator of an Arabic sign language translation app has spoken about how she aims to improve accessibility for deaf people, helping them integrate into society.
Reem Turky, the founder of Tawaasuly, has created a significant tool for the deaf community in the Arabic-speaking world. The app serves as a bridge between deaf and hearing people, offering dual communication channels.
Tawaasuly translates Arabic speech and text into Arabic sign language using 3D animation and converts sign language gestures back into spoken or written Arabic.
By collaborating with experts in the field, the app adapts to the nuances and variations of Arabic sign language, ensuring contextually appropriate translations. (Supplied)
“We aim to realize service providers’ visions by elevating the disabled customer experience to a new era,” Turky told Arab News.
Tawaasuly facilitates communication, engages the Arabic deaf community in society and enables users to live independently from their families and translators. It also helps service-driven enterprises gain recognition as innovators in customer experience while addressing environmental, social and governance issues.
Turky’s journey to create Tawaasuly was deeply personal. “I witnessed the challenges faced by my colleague, who struggled to communicate in social and professional settings,” she said.
We utilize a combination of machine learning and voice-to-text recognition technologies to translate between Arabic language and Arabic sign language.
Reem Turky, Founder of Tawaasuly
“This experience ignited my passion to create a solution that bridges communication gaps.”
Recognizing that existing tools for the Arabic-speaking deaf community were inadequate and culturally misaligned, she was motivated to develop Tawaasuly.
“Our mission is to empower the deaf community by providing accessible communication that promotes inclusion and understanding,” Turky said.
“We utilize a combination of machine learning and voice-to-text recognition technologies to translate between Arabic language and Arabic sign language.”
By collaborating with experts in the field, the app adapts to the nuances and variations of Arabic sign language, ensuring contextually appropriate translations.
Feedback from users has been positive. Many have expressed gratitude for the app’s user-friendly interface and accurate translations.
“It significantly enhances their ability to communicate in various settings, from education to social interactions,” Turky said.
But she said she had faced challenges in trying to raise awareness of the app.
“The prevailing stigma around deafness and limited awareness of available technologies has been our main challenge,” she said.
The team is dedicated to educating both the deaf community and companies about the app’s benefits. Its impact is measured through user feedback, social engagement and usage statistics.
Turky said: “One user shared that Tawaasuly helped her engage frequently with hearing communities after years of isolation.”
She hopes that in five years Tawaasuly, with increased functionality, including more languages and dialects, will be the go-to communication tool for deaf people across the Arabic-speaking world. She said she also planned to launch an enterprise version of the app to help companies serve deaf customers better.
The company is currently pursuing partnerships with startups focusing on AI and text-to-speech technologies, as well as collaborations with educational institutions and nongovernmental organizations that advocate for disability rights.
“We prioritize sustainable practices in our operations, such as green IT and community outreach programs,” Turky said.
She believes that technology plays a crucial role in improving accessibility for disabled communities.
“It can enhance communication, provide access to information and create inclusive environments for disabled individuals,” she said.
Witnessing the positive impact of Tawaasuly on users’ lives has been rewarding for Turky.
“Knowing that Tawaasuly helps bridge communication gaps is my motivation,” she said.
