Literacy app for deaf children, StorySign, now available on iOS

Chinese tech company Huawei has brought its free literacy app for children, StorySign, to iOS. The app, which was previously available only through Google Play, uses AI technology to translate popular children's books into sign language.

Huawei says that a total of 52 books have been made available through the app, in 13 languages. However, currently there are only 5 books available in Auslan, the sign language used by the Australian deaf community.

"With over 34 million deaf children around the world - including up to 400 children born deaf every year in Australia – and no written form of sign language, many struggle to connect sign language with the written word," said Huawei in a statement.

"This creates reading challenges and ultimately impacts literacy levels, with an overwhelming number leaving school functionally illiterate."

Children can use the app by opening a selected book and holding their phone over the page. An avatar on the screen then signs each word as the app highlights it on the screen.

Huawei says it worked with deaf communities around the world, including Deaf Australia, to develop the app.

Jacqui Dent

Editorial Strategist

Jacqui Dent is an Editorial Content Strategist at WhistleOut Australia, where she writes about mobile phone plans, NBN plans and everything in between. Over her ten-year career, she has worked to provide informed advice to the public, first in the sphere of writing and now in the world of consumer tech. Jacqui has also written about consumer telco products for Business Insider, Pedestrian and the 50Up Club.

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