Google has announced the launch of a new smartphone app called Look To Speak, which aims to make communicating easier for people by using just their eyes. The Android app is intended for people with speech and motor difficulties and helps them select phrases on their phones and speak them loud — all by using their eye movements. Developed on the Experiments with Google platform, the new accessibility app is a result of collaboration between Richard Cave, the Speech and Language Therapist, and a team at Google, which had been working on this similar project.
The Look to Speak Android app requires users to hold their phone steady in front of their eyes and then use their eyes to look left, right, or up to select pre-written phrases from the list. These include the phrases and words used in basic conversation such as hello, thank you, great, okay, etc. The phrases also include basic questions used in our daily conversations, like asking the other person’s name, how and where they are, and what’s going on.
Look to Speak App Features, Working, and Availability
“Look to Speak is a ‘Start with One’ project on the Experiments with Google platform,” reads the official Google blog post. “Throughout the design process, we reached out to a small group of people who might benefit from a communication tool like this,” said Richard Cave. With this new app, you can simply look left, right, or up to quickly select what you want to say from a list of pre-written phrases. The chosen phrases will then be read aloud on the Look to Speak app. Apart from this, you’ll also have the option to add your authentic voice notes on the app, which in turn will sound the phrases more personalized.
Additionally, apart from choosing and speaking out the phrases, the app also provides the option to snooze the screen. Users can adjust the eye gaze sensitivity from the settings. Speaking of availability, the Look to Speak app is available to everyone with devices running Android 9.0 and above, including Android One.
