SpeakTiles

Inspiration We were inspired by the communication challenges faced by non-verbal individuals, including people with autism, cerebral palsy, ALS, and stroke survivors. These individuals often rely on slow or cumbersome tools to express themselves. We wanted to create something faster, more intuitive, and more personal — a tool that could make everyday interactions easier, restore independence, and ensure everyone has a voice.

What it does SpeakTiles is an assistive communication app that lets non-verbal users quickly express themselves by tapping tiles representing words or phrases. The app instantly converts selections into natural-sounding speech. Tiles can be organized into categories (Core phrases, Feelings, Food & Drink), customized with images and labels, and paired with accessibility features like dark mode, high contrast, and large tile mode.

How we built it We designed the interface with simplicity and accessibility in mind, using [list the tech stack you actually used, e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Vite, Netlify, and text-to-speech APIs]. Categories and tile customization were implemented to allow for flexibility and personalization, while the accessibility settings ensure the app works for a wide range of users and devices.

Challenges we ran into One challenge was balancing customization with simplicity — we wanted the app to be powerful without overwhelming the user. We also had to ensure that the text-to-speech output was fast and clear, and that the interface worked smoothly across devices and screen sizes.

Accomplishments that we're proud of We’re proud that SpeakTiles is intuitive enough for anyone to use within seconds. The combination of customizable tiles, accessible design, and instant voice output makes it a versatile tool for many real-world scenarios, from ordering at a café to expressing emotions in a classroom.

What we learned We learned how important it is to design technology with empathy and accessibility at the forefront. Building SpeakTiles reinforced the value of user feedback, especially from the communities we aim to serve. We also learned to optimize performance so the app responds instantly, which is crucial for real-time communication.

What's next for SpeakTiles We plan to add multilingual support, AI-powered phrase suggestions based on context, and an offline mode for areas with unreliable internet access. We’d also like to partner with schools, hospitals, and care centers to make SpeakTiles available to those who need it most.

Built With

• css
• html
• javascript
• netlify
• openaiapi
• vite