Growing up, JariHazelebachwas a full-time interpreter.
While my parents could lip-read, their hearing disability made group conversations almost impossible,Hazelebachtold TNW.
Even family Christmas gatherings were a struggle.
The young entrepreneurs initial goal was straightforward: he wanted to help his dad take part in work meetings.
But all the speech-to-textsoftwareavailable was inadequate.
Everything on the market was either too bulky, inaccurate, or impractical, saysHazelebach.
His mum and dad agreed.
It’s free, every week, in your inbox.
How does Speaksee work?
Speaksees microphone kit is specifically designed to create live subtitles of group conversations for people suffering from hearing loss.
Each microphone is equipped with beam-forming technology, which isolates the speech from background noise, improving accuracy.
The audio is then sent to a charging dock.
All of this happens in real-time, allowing someone with hearing loss to read whats being said.
Each member of the group is colour-coded in the app, so the reader knows whos saying what.
The software also works with video conferencing.
The Speakseeappworks in over 40 languages.
This brings its total raised so far to $4mn.
The hardest part about expansion, saysHazelebach, is securing government support.
Understandably, people dont have to pay out of pocket for something like this, he said.
They expect it to be subsidised.
Recently, the Dutch Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) approved Speaksee for reimbursement.
This means that the government will cover the costs of the microphone kit for any employee in the Netherlands.
Government support is a real game-changer, said the founder.
It makes this life-changing technology within reach of so many more people.
Speaksee is already used by several Dutch companies including KPN, Rabobank, and PwC.
The Dutch government has also adopted the technology.
Back at home,Hazelebachs parents use Speaksee everyday.
Christmas dinners have become demo day, laughedHazelebach.
Each year we test out new features and the whole family gives their feedback.
This year they will try out the kit using nine microphones Im looking forward to that.
Story bySion Geschwindt
Sion is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy.
