The triumphant team, known as TAWI, outshone their counterparts from India and Brazil during the World Championship event held online on May 23. The event, a highlight of the Microsoft Build conference, witnessed TAWI's exceptional solution, earning them a well-deserved prize of USD 100,000. Furthermore, they were granted an exclusive mentorship session with Satya Nadella, Microsoft's esteemed Chairman and CEO, along with Level 2 access to Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub.
TAWI's remarkable creation is an app that harnesses the power of real-time speech recognition technology to minimize background noise, enhance speech clarity, and seamlessly convert speech to text, all customized to meet the unique requirements of each child. The app, compatible with smartphones and a pair of earphones, empowers children with APD to surmount communication barriers, confidently navigate their surroundings, and unlock their full potential.
APD poses challenges to the brain's ability to process sounds and affects approximately 5% of school-age children, as indicated by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Children grappling with APD encounter obstacles such as difficulties in following instructions, comprehending speech in noisy environments, and acquiring new vocabulary.
The team comprising John Onsongo Mabeya, Muna Said, Syntiche Musawu Cishimbi, and Zakariya Hussein Hassan initially crossed paths at a school hackathon. Sharing a common objective and possessing complementary skills, they united their efforts to conceive TAWI. The inspiration behind their creation stemmed from one team member's personal experience, having a sibling with APD. Witnessing their sibling's challenges firsthand, they recognized the pressing need for a practical and cost-effective alternative to conventional hearing aids.
Reflecting on their triumph, Muna, a member of Team TAWI, expressed immense enthusiasm about the potential impact their project could have on children with APD. With TAWI's employment of real-time speech recognition and amplification, they believe it holds the power to revolutionize the lives of these children, allowing them to actively engage in social and educational settings. Muna further shared their collective aspiration for TAWI to eventually reach widespread availability and address the critical needs of the community.
The Imagine Cup serves as an annual platform that challenges students worldwide to employ technology in tackling some of the most pressing global issues. This year's competition centered around Microsoft's AI for Good initiatives, aiming to leverage artificial intelligence to address concerns encompassing accessibility, healthcare, education, and sustainability.
Beginning with tens of thousands of aspiring young minds, the competition unfolded through months of intense rivalry, culminating in the World Championship where only three teams secured their place. Alongside TAWI, the other two distinguished finalists were C-SM Tool from India, who developed a groundbreaking medical device utilizing AI to monitor cardiac health, and Eupnea from Brazil, creators of a cost-effective AI-driven solution for diagnosing and treating tuberculosis.