Maybe you’ve had this dream. The one where you’re in a conversation and someone asks you a question — and when you try to respond, nothing comes out.
This is a reality for many Deaf people who can’t voice. And it’s not simply a communication issue. Not being able to respond with your voice — at work or in the classroom — means opportunities such as promotions or academic progress are also silenced.
Is that reality ok? Is it alright for Deaf people to be excluded from most hearing conversations? Is it perfectly fine for people who can’t voice what they think to be marginalized?
If the answer is that obvious, why hasn’t enough been done about it?
Ava has brought Deaf and hard-of-hearing people into conversations through its accurate real-time captioning solution. And now it’s pushing accessibility forward with a new product that can significantly and positively impact the equity of Deaf people.
Ava Voice is the first voice technology that enables non-voicing Deaf people to speak with a natural voice within any video conferencing meeting in real time. Ava Voice changes the way individuals can communicate, helping remove the stigma of being voiceless in a hearing world. It uses text-to-speech technology, or what Ava calls, type-to-speak with naturally sounding voices to allow non-voicing Deaf people to literally be heard in a conversation.
Ava Voice is part of the Ava captioning applications suite available for desktop and mobile that provides real-time speech transcription and employs empathetic, conversational AI voices to facilitate two-way communication. What's even more impressive is that the app was created by and for the Deaf community, meaning that it was born out of a real need and continues to evolve alongside those it serves.
In this blog post, we'll explore how Ava Voice is changing the game, from its core features to its impact on workplaces and classrooms, and its ability to foster deeper connections between Deaf and hearing people.
The Personal Journey Behind Ava Voice: Empowering Skinner and Beyond
At the heart of the Ava Voice lies a powerful and deeply personal story. Meet Skinner Cheng, Ava’s CTO and co-founder, who was born deaf and didn’t have the opportunity to learn sign language early in life. Skinner's unique journey shaped the very essence of Ava Voice. While he learned to speak, his words were often lost in translation, leading to frustrating and sometimes futile attempts at communication with hearing people. Complex conversations often became a laborious exchange of text messages.
In the early days of Ava, Skinner developed our initial text-to-speech technology, which, while functional, had a robotic tone that failed to capture the nuance of human speech. The team then worked on a solution that would provide individuals like Skinner with a natural, engaging, and empowering voice — a voice that could cut through a conversation. Today, Skinner uses Ava Voice at work and is more empowered than ever before, symbolizing the essence of our inclusive mission.
How Ava Voice Is Revolutionizing Two-Way Communication
The inability to communicate effectively can cause immense frustration and often result in individuals feeling isolated and disconnected. Skinner's experiences, along with those of countless others, serves as a powerful catalyst for change. Ava Voice is not just revolutionizing communication; it's breaking down barriers and paving the way for a more inclusive world. At its core, Ava Voice provides real-time speech-to-text transcription, enabling seamless two-way communication. But what sets it apart is its radical commitment to inclusivity, particularly with its groundbreaking gender-neutral option.
For far too long, individuals who do not conform to traditional gender binaries have struggled to find a voice that represents their identity. Ava Voice recognizes the importance of this issue and has taken a bold step forward by introducing gender-neutral voices. This is a game-changer because it acknowledges the diverse spectrum of human identities and ensures that everyone, regardless of gender expression, can participate in conversations without compromise.
Ultimately, Ava Voice empowers individuals like Skinner to be present and engaged in all aspects of life, from professional meetings to social gatherings, while also promoting a more empathetic and inclusive society. It's not just a technological advancement; it's a leap towards a world where everyone's voice is heard and respected.
Empathy in Action: Ava Voice for Human Resource Professionals
Empathy is key when it comes to creating an inclusive workplace. With Ava Voice, HR professionals can foster inclusivity by providing real-time captions, ensuring that everyone is included in work meetings. That means Deaf individuals receive equal opportunities for career development, regardless of their communication difficulties. Providing Ava Voice for employees with communication disabilities demonstrates that their voices matter and increases job satisfaction, which in turn leads to better productivity and a more positive work environment. Here’s some ways Ava Voice can make a difference in the workplace:
1. Enhancing Communication in Meetings: Ava Voice, with its natural-sounding voices, transforms workplace communication by fostering a seamless and natural flow of conversations during meetings and discussions. This innovative feature empowers individuals, including those with communication difficulties, to actively engage and contribute, ensuring that every voice is seamlessly integrated and valued.
2. Facilitating Presentations: Ava Voice makes training sessions, workshops, and presentations more inclusive and accessible by offering natural-sounding voices for presentations and discussions. This ensures that all participants can engage with the material, regardless of their communication abilities, promoting a more effective experience.
3. Elevating Customer Support: Ava Voice empowers customer support teams to deliver exceptional service by providing a clear and natural means of communication. This enhanced communication leads to better customer satisfaction, as customers can easily understand and engage with support representatives.
4. Enhancing Cross-Functional Collaboration: In the workplace, Ava Voice facilitates cross-functional collaboration by breaking down communication barriers between teams. It ensures that ideas and information flow seamlessly, contributing to more effective project management, innovation, and teamwork.
Incorporating Ava Voice's natural-sounding text-to-speech feature into the workplace fosters a culture of inclusivity, improves communication, and promotes equal opportunities for all employees. It's a versatile tool that empowers individuals and organizations alike, ultimately leading to a more engaged and productive workforce — and it takes ADA compliance to a new level.
The Key to Two-Way Communication in Higher Education
Classrooms can be overwhelming for those with communication difficulties, from struggling to keep up with lectures to feeling excluded from class discussions. Ava Voice can bridge this gap by providing real-time transcriptions, ensuring that everyone can keep up with the conversation. The app also includes features that increase participation, such as the ability to ask questions anonymously — meaning that more individuals can engage in the learning process, leading to better educational outcomes. Here’s some ways Ava Voice can make a difference in the classroom:
1. Encouraging Active Participation: Ava Voice's text-to-speech feature encourages active participation by allowing students to ask questions and engage in group discussions with ease. This not only benefits Deaf and hard-of-hearing students but also creates a more dynamic and interactive learning experience for everyone.
2. Enhancing Teacher-Student Communication: For teachers or students who are Deaf or hard of hearing, Ava Voice's natural-sounding text-to-speech provides a means to communicate effectively with each other. It breaks down communication barriers, enabling these educators to convey information clearly and connect with their students on a deeper level.
3. Fostering Relationships and Reducing Isolation: Beyond formal education, Ava Voice can be used for casual interactions, such as playtime, lunch, or casual chats between students. It fosters relationships and reduces the isolation that Deaf and hard-of-hearing students may experience, promoting a sense of belonging and friendship within the school community.
Incorporating Ava Voice's natural-sounding text-to-speech feature into the workplace fosters a culture of inclusivity, improves communication, and promotes equal opportunities for all employees. It's a versatile tool that empowers individuals and organizations alike, ultimately leading to a more engaged and productive workforce — and it takes ADA compliance to a new level.
The Key to Two-Way Communication in Higher Education
Classrooms can be overwhelming for those with communication difficulties, from struggling to keep up with lectures to feeling excluded from class discussions. Ava Voice can bridge this gap by providing real-time transcriptions, ensuring that everyone can keep up with the conversation. The app also includes features that increase participation, such as the ability to ask questions anonymously — meaning that more individuals can engage in the learning process, leading to better educational outcomes. Here’s some ways Ava Voice can make a difference in the classroom:
1. Encouraging Active Participation: Ava Voice's text-to-speech feature encourages active participation by allowing students to ask questions and engage in group discussions with ease. This not only benefits Deaf and hard-of-hearing students but also creates a more dynamic and interactive learning experience for everyone.
2. Enhancing Teacher-Student Communication: For teachers or students who are Deaf or hard of hearing, Ava Voice's natural-sounding text-to-speech provides a means to communicate effectively with each other. It breaks down communication barriers, enabling these educators to convey information clearly and connect with their students on a deeper level.
3. Fostering Relationships and Reducing Isolation: Beyond formal education, Ava Voice can be used for casual interactions, such as playtime, lunch, or casual chats between students. It fosters relationships and reduces the isolation that Deaf and hard-of-hearing students may experience, promoting a sense of belonging and friendship within the school community.
Transforming Accessibility into Heartfelt Moments of Connection
Ava Voice's ability to create emotional connections extends beyond the realm of education and work. It touches the very heart of human interaction. Imagine the sheer joy of hearing a friend, family member, or loved one's voice for the first time, or the happiness of sharing a heartfelt conversation with someone who has struggled to communicate verbally.
These are the powerful moments Ava Voice makes possible. By transcending communication barriers, Ava Voice fosters empathy, understanding, and genuine connections. It transforms seemingly ordinary moments into extraordinary, emotional experiences, reaffirming that accessibility and empathy can change lives in profound ways. It's not just a tool; it's a catalyst for meaningful human interactions, making it an invaluable addition to the lives of Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals and their loved ones.
In today's world, technology has the power to bring individuals together and facilitate communication on a larger scale. Ava Voice has revolutionized two-way communication by providing real-time transcription and using empathetic voices to foster inclusion. By increasing accessibility for the Deaf community, Ava Voice is changing lives one conversation at a time. In the workplace and classroom, Ava Voice is promoting inclusion and empowering individuals by ensuring that their voices are heard. Download Ava and experience the life-changing power of inclusive communication for yourself!
