Leveraging motion capture technology, Terp 360 enhances accessibility across multiple sectors, including healthcare, education, employment, and social engagement for the hearing impaired.
Elly’s story
Growing up in Western Kenya, Elly Savatia was always curious about technology. As a child, he eagerly dismantled radios and clocks to understand how they worked. At the age of 10, he discovered the word ‘innovation’ and began to connect his passion for technology with solving real-world problems.
While still in high school, Elly worked on his first assistive technology project: a robotic staircase that could transform into a ramp, enabling people with physical disabilities to access buildings. This project ignited a lifelong passion for assistive technology.
The idea for Terp 360 emerged years later during a robotics class in Northern Kenya, where Elly noticed a critical issue. In a class of 300 deaf students, there was only one interpreter. This stark disparity inspired him to explore ways to use mobile technology to bridge communication gaps for deaf people.
The innovation
Terp 360 is a groundbreaking app designed to support the deaf and hearing-impaired community. Using 3D avatars and AI, Terp 360 translates speech into sign language with lifelike fluidity, setting it apart from other tools on the market.
Initially, Terp 360 began as a simple Unity-based app capable of interpreting the sign language alphabet and a limited set of words. However, early feedback revealed that the motions felt too robotic, highlighting the need for a more natural and fluid signing experience.
To enhance the experience, Elly’s team at Signvrse incorporated motion capture technologies. They collaborated with deaf and hard-of-hearing Kenyans to record over 2300 signs, including commonly used phrases and words, ensuring the app’s avatar felt human-like and relatable.
Making a difference
Though still in its testing phase, Terp 360 has already interacted with 2,000+ members of the deaf community. Elly and his team are preparing to expand into the B2B market, focusing on education, corporate and healthcare.
Elly envisions Terp 360 growing to include broader vocabulary, dialects, and colloquialisms, with plans to expand the app’s reach to Uganda and Rwanda. By addressing the interpreter shortage and improving accessibility, Terp 360 has the potential to transform learning environments and create more inclusive spaces for the deaf and hearing-impaired community.
At the age of 10, I first encountered the concept of innovation and knew that it wasn’t just about a passion for electronics, but how you can use this passion to create a solution to a problem in a community. I applied for The Africa Prize to equip myself with the necessary skills and mentorship that will help me scale my innovation across the African continent.
