We combine Machine Learningwith telecom to change communication.
Kunal BatraCEO
Vahid HamidullahCTO
• Imagine calling a loved one, Doctor, Lawyer• Can’t speak directly• Complex Procedure (special code words)• No privacy
Current Problem2
Current Market
• According to John Hopkins Medicine, “Nearly a fifth of all Americans 12 years or older have hearing loss so severe that it may make communication difficult”
• 48 million people in the USA. • 800 million worldwide.
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Current Calling Procedure
(Source: www.nyrelay.com)
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About DeaftelDeaftel is a phone service that lets the Deaf, Hard of Hearing & those with speech impediments talk to anyone over the phone.
Deaftel SmartphoneUserDeaftel Robot
Any Hearing User
Voice Text
History
How we went from a Social Network for Indians to a Phone Service for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing.
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History
Social Roots needed a way for Business Owners to verify theirbusiness on our site. (Pictured on the left is my absolute favorite Indian restaurant Utsav!)
I found out about Twilio through a Techcrunch article and it waslove at first api. Started to enter their programming contests in mydowntime.
I entered their anything goes contest with a random idea of creatinga java chat box where I converted voice to text and text back into voice.
I DIDN’T WIN THE CONTEST
History
Forgot about the programming contest and went back to tryingconvince Indian Businesses why they need to pay me a lot of moneyFor the services Social Roots can offer their business.
They would listen to my pitch & then ask me to explain “What email is”
A week after the programming contest finished, the programmable webmade my Twilio entry their mashup of the day.
My inbox started to fill up with compelling emails from the Deaf community on how they need my service.
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History of Deaftel
Began as a contest entry for the “Anything Goes” Twilio Programming Contest.
Contest Entry
While working on my previous startup Socialroots.com, I just kept receiving emails from the deaf community asking to use this service.
Emails
By the end of the first day I had a little over 500 users signup showing their interest. There was no advertising other than creating a Facebook and Twitter page.
Deaftel Signup
“I am profoundly hearing impaired. I do not sign. …Many places like doctor's offices will not use a relay/tty service to call me about appointment changes. They just wait till I drive 2 hours then tell me there that my appointment was changed…I am desperate!”
- R
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Deaftel Demo Video