New local apps to help community of deaf persons

SINGAPORE — Grey Group Singapore and the Singapore Association for the Deaf (SADeaf) have launched two new mobile applications that allow phone calls to be made to deaf people and also provide them with timely notifications of important warning sounds.

Say It With Signs is a mobile app that allows the user to make phone calls to a deaf person in situations such as when the caller is driving, where text messaging is prohibited. The app processes audio messages during a phone call into digital hand signs displayed on the receiver’s mobile phone. The receiver, who is a deaf person, can easily view this sign language on their mobile phone and reply to the caller via a text message through the app.

The second app, Hearing Aide, aims to inform users of important warning sounds, like the whistling of a boiling kettle and the sound of a fire alarm. Upon detecting the warning sound, the app will notify users of the impending dangers via a 20-second vibration and a visual message on the display. The app is pre-loaded with five standard alarms, and is capable of storing 10 more alarms customised by the user.

Mr James Ong Kay Chin, executive officer of the SADeaf, shared his near-death experience of almost getting knocked down by a fire engine as he could not hear the sirens, saying “just like how I almost got into an accident, I believe that the rest of the (deaf) community also face similar problems. With this app, it can really save their lives”.

Both applications will be free to download from the Google Play Store from April 25.