16-year old Indian, Arsh Shah Dilbagi, only Asian in the 15 global finalist at the Google Science Fair 2014

September 16, 2014 Vivek Trivedi

Indian boy invents device that can convert breath to speech. Arsh Shah Dilbagi, only Asian in the 15 global finalist at the Google Science Fair 2014

Indian boy invents device that can convert breath to speech

Arsh Shah Dilbagi, a 16-year old boy from Panipat, Haryana, invents a portable and affordable device that can convert breath to speech. Dubbed as “TALK“, it is an Augmentative and Alternative Communication Device (AAC) that can be used by people with Developmental-Disabilities (DD) like Locked-In Syndrome, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis etc. He is the only asian in the 15 Global Finalists in the Google Science Fair 2014, a global online science and technology competition open to individuals and teams from ages 13 to 18.

As per Dilbagi –

Talk is an Augmentative and Alternative Communication Device (AAC) which enables people with Developmental-Disabilities (DD) like Locked-In Syndrome, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis etc. and even Mutes to communicate in normal form of speech. It is a patent-pending innovative technology which using the variations in person’s breath help him either dictate letters which are further combined and synthesised as sentences or speak-out specific commands/phrases depending on the mode selected. Current AAC devices cost thousands of dollars but Talk can be made accessible under a hundred US dollars and it also increases the speaking rate by at-least 300%.

Approximately 1.4% of the world population suffer from Developmental-Disabilities which is more than the entire population of Germany. Current AAC Devices are very slow, bulky and cost thousands of dollars. Talk is much faster, portable and generic and will be affordable as the total investment cost is about 80$ [Rs. 5000]. Talk uses MEMS Microphone for sensing forced exhales and Morse Code for dictation of words.

In the words of Dilbagi –

In nutshell, Talk has the potential to change the world by enabling people with disorders like LIS, ALS etc., speech impairments like Dysarthria and even Mutes to communicate and interact with the world like never before. Talk is the beginning of a whole new world for people with Developmental Disabilities. One thing which is the most important of all, I wish that Talk reaches all in need and makes this world a better place to live. It’s my turn to change the world.

Voting for the competition closed on 15th September and the winner will be announced on 23rd September. The Grand Prize includes a 10-day trip to the Galapagos Islands with National Geographic Expeditions, a visit to Virgin Galactic Spaceport and $50,000 in scholarship funding. A complete list of prize details can be found here.

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