“Air-Writing” Alternative Communication Project

Sam Gray

I’m a Master’s student of Design Engineering at Imperial College London, and spending my last year designing and developing a wearable device to enable a new method of communication: “Air-Writing”- scrawling words in the air with your finger. The device will use a camera to track your finger, read the “air drawings” and speak the message aloud.

This could offer a new communication method for anyone who struggles with voice or speech- one that’s real time, allows for eye contact, and expression control – the ‘techy younger sibling’ to sign language that doesn’t require fluency between communicating parties. So far, I’ve made a proof of concept that lets you speak with “air-writing”- but for now it uses my computer and webcam. Long term I’m aiming for screenless and seamless.

To give the project the best possible chance of being impactful I want to learn as much as I can from people who suffer from speech or voice difficulties. I’m looking to conduct short interviews, around 15 minutes, in whatever format you’re most comfortable with. I’m also looking to run some in-person sessions to see how you interact with prototypes and what can be improved/adjusted. If you’re London based (I can travel to you) then I’d love to hear from you. And no matter where you are, I’d love to hear your perspective through an interview. Drop me an email at sg1322@ic.ac.uk. For more background: www.samuelgray.myportfolio.com