Surdophone: telecommunication platform for deaf people

1. Surdophone:
telecommunication platform for deaf people
Founder and managing company
Location:
The participants of the
community:
Surdophone Ltd.
Surdo-phone@lomcap.ru
http://surdophone.com
2015

2. Value proposition
Value proposition (basic product): computer speech to sign
language translator.
There are more than 3 million of deaf people in the world. Their language of
communication is sign language. Despite of the fact that deaf live among us, in fact,
they are isolated from the many possibilities of modern world. There is an acute
problem of education of deaf and their integration into the society.
The main problem is the communication barrier of hearing and deaf people. Sign
language is a native language to the deaf, however it’s unknown to the other society.
The solution of the problem seen in developing of system of automatic computer
forward and reverse translation of speech into sign language, as well as the integration
of this system in a variety aspects of life of deaf people: mobile applications, stationary
communication terminals in public places and facilities, sign language TV programs,
education, etc.
2

3. The current stage of the project
• http://surdophone.ru available for
download a demo version
• Implemented articulation, facial
expressions, natural kinematics
•It is developed the prototype of the product
– “SF-Movie profy”, designed for TV studios:
professional video installation for TV
broadcast - for advertise and information
sphere.
1. Completed the development of
the basic system core
2. Mobile app
• Surdophone – free trial for
Android OS
https://play.google.com/store
/apps/details?id=com.surdofo
n
3. Test version on Amslen
(American Sign Language) and
Korean Sign Language
Demo-versions:
• http://youtu.be/2NhyBQCMuJs
• http://goo.gl/gUc89q
• http://goo.gl/9iKixU
3

4. Surdophone technology and teem
1. Easily configurable for various world natural and sign languages
2. The linguistic system recognizes more than 20 thousand words. There is an ability
to simplify automatically the text to adapt and be understood by the deaf people.
The database contains 3000 gestures.
3. Workability:
• Client-server architecture
• All the operations of sign language interpretation are carried out in the "cloud"
• The load and technical requirements are reduced for end-user devices;
• The consumption of internet traffic is minimized;
• It is possible to use a local offline version.
Patents:
• Certificate of state registration of the computer program № 201261906
“Computerized translator from Russian text to a written elementary sign language”
from 05.10.2012,
• Provisional Patent Application for USPTO № 6660 от 21.01.2014 г.,
• Certificate of state registration of the computer program “The system of sign
language using the three-dimensional animated computer characters”.
Technical characteristics of the system:
Company:
The company "Surdophone" was founded in 2012. It is a resident of the Technopark of
the Novosibirsk Akademgorodok "Academpark“.
The company's management is executed by Lomonosov Capital Co Ltd.
www.lomcap.ru
R & D manager: Michael Grif, born in 1959, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor,
Head of the department of automated control systems of Novosibirsk State Technical
University.
R & D team includes five employees: Programmer 3D-engine, computer linguist
programmer of speech recognition, 3D-Animator, a professional sign language
interpreter.
Company’s website: http://surdophone.com 4

5. Product line
o SF-Movie home:
b2c, amateur video editing with sign language
o SF-Movie profy:
b2b (TV studios), professional video installation for TV
broadcasts, advertise and information TV programs.
Additional products:
According to the basic technology that is used in the flagship product, it is
planned to bring to the market a range of products that provide additional
revenue and marketing promotion of the main product:
Flagship product:
SF-Mobile: The communicator for deaf and hearing
o SF-Comm:
b2b (Public services, Railways, Airports, Hospitals, etc.),
stationary communicators in social and business areas
o Software, mobile application for smartphone / tablet, IOS,
Android
o Translation of speech or text into sign language and
demonstration on the device with 3D avatar
o Feedback from the deaf: a deaf is typing or selecting typycal
phrases. This text is voiced by a speech synthesizer. The
sound is performed by device or transmitted via mobile
communication.
5

6. Market
TOP-3 world sign languages:
1. Amslen (USA, Canada, etc.): 935 000 pers.
2. JSL (Japan, South Korea, Taiwan): 515 000 pers.
3. RSL (RSL, CIS countries): 300 000 pers.
6

7. 7
Framework conditions for cooperation
There are a few basic schemes of cooperation:
1. Software Localization
2. Joint enterprise
Software Localization
The list of works includes:
1) Localization of Surdophone system at any world sound and sign language;
2) Development of individual modules and products in accordance with the
agreed Program for producing embedded software.
Joint company
This scheme assumes the direct investments in the company-developer –
Surdophone Co Ltd. We are ready to consider the options of how to register
a new company in various jurisdictions with the know-how and intellectual
property rights transfer to this company.