Kenyan App Terp 360 Wins Africa Prize for AI Sign Language Translation
Kenyan entrepreneur Elly Savatia has won the prestigious Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation for his groundbreaking app, Terp 360. The app, designed to address communication barriers faced by deaf people, translates speech and text into sign language using AI-powered 3D avatars.
Terp 360 was developed in collaboration with deaf and hard-of-hearing Kenyans, recording over 2,300 signs, including common phrases and words. The app functions similarly to Google Translate, enabling users to communicate without relying on human interpreters. It currently translates from English and Swahili into Kenyan Sign Language, with plans to support other African and global sign languages by mid-2027.
The Africa Prize judges solutions based on their social impact, and Terp 360 is seen as an enabler for companies to integrate deaf people into their workforce more effectively and affordably than using human interpreters. Savatia aims to train the AI in new languages by partnering with local NGOs, projects, and news stations with visual sign language datasets and video footage.
Savatia was awarded £50,000 ($67,000) for winning the Africa Prize. Terp 360 is set to revolutionize communication for the deaf community, breaking down barriers and promoting inclusivity.
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