Whispp: Empowering voices with assistive voice technology

In a world where communication is key, everyone deserves to have a voice. But imagine you’re unable to voice your thoughts, speak up, or just communicate comfortably. What would you do?

For many individuals, such as those with speech disabilities, stutters, or vocal health issues, communicating effectively can be a challenge. People struggling with a stutter tend to whisper, as it helps them to speak more fluently. In fact, research indicates that whispering can reduce stuttering frequency by up to 85%.

However, whispering is also more silent, and it may feel a bit isolating and uncomfortable.

As someone who had struggled with stuttering as a child and young adult, Joris Castermans, CEO and Co-founder of Whispp assistive voice technology knew he had to make a change to express himself more freely.

We met with Castermans at MWC in Barcelona this year to learn more about Whispp, the technology behind it, and their partnership with Infobip. He expressed how working with Infobip and using our voice technology builds a more inclusive and interconnected world where everyone’s voice can be heard.

Watch the full interview here or read on to get more insights from our conversation.

Whispp is an assistive Voice technology that gives a voice to those who struggle to speak freely and fluently, empowering them to speak up and connect with others in a meaningful way. With its ability to bridge the gap between speech and text, this technology is proving that everyone deserves a voice, no matter their circumstances.

Whispp was developed for people with good articulation but no voice. It is especially helpful for conditions like Spasmodic Dysphonia.

With over 80 million people living with speech disorders around the world, the impact of smartphones on their ability to communicate cannot be overlooked. That’s where Whispp steps in – empowering individuals with speech disorders to fully make use of their smartphones and communicate with others more freely and independently.

So how does it actually work? Let’s explore the technology behind it.

Whispp’s technology is adaptable and works across languages, making it more accessible. It’s based on the source-filter model, which helps turn vocal cord vibrations into clear speech. How?

Big tech and assistive speech tech companies predominantly focus on Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR), also known as speech-to-text (STT) for non-standard speech. This is very helpful for patients with reduced articulation (ALS, MS, stroke and Parkinsons Disease) who can use the text-to-speech to synthesize their speech.  

The disadvantage of this STT-TTS approach, however, is the high latency of 2-3 seconds, which creates barriers to natural conversation. Because of this, the current AI speech technology solutions are not able to provide an adequate solution for people with voice disorders who have lost their voice but still have good articulation.

With its real-time audio-to-audio based assistive voice technology, Whispp created a new product category and fills this gap to improve the lives of a currently underserved group of 300M people worldwide.

Let’s dive deeper into the features and benefits of this technology.

Whispp was founded to overcome two main challenges:

With this in mind, Whispp developed assistive voice technology, and a calling app that converts whispered speech in real-time into a person’s clear and natural voice.

With Whispp, you can reach anyone on their phone or landline. And you can download their free app to initiate video calls.

Here are five features and benefits of using Whispp:

It also allows users to interact with their devices hands-free, making it ideal for people with disabilities or those who prefer a hands-free experience.

Whispp can be integrated with a variety of smart devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and smart speakers. This integration allows users to control their devices and access information using only their voice, providing a seamless and convenient user experience.

Whispp uses audio-to-audio-based AI for real-time speech conversion, making it incredibly scalable thanks to its language-independent capabilities. Users have the unique ability to personalize their communication by providing recordings of their natural voice, adding a personal touch to their interactions.

Whispp is a game-changer when it comes to accommodating a wide range of voice types, from whispers to rough speech caused by a total laryngectomy after throat cancer. This solution is adaptable to address various conditions, and what makes it even more ground-breaking is its ability to intentionally guide the voice toward whispering.

Whispp offers real-time speech conversion, making communication more natural. Unlike traditional STT methods, Whispp eliminates delays, and uneven conversation flows, offering immediate feedback, convenience, and a seamless communication flow for the end user.

One of the key challenges that Whispp faced was finding the right CPaaS partner who could support their unique needs. After exploring various options, Whispp chose to partner with Infobip, who was committed to helping them overcome obstacles and provide a tailored solution.

Whispp uses Infobip’s WebRTC as their Voice solution to transform whispers into clear and natural conversations in real-time. They built their own AI models for speech transformation while actively collaborating with Infobip to integrate new features into their end-to-end scenarios.

Our partnership empowers vulnerable people with voice disabilities to express their opinions and speak more independently.

By partnering with Infobip Whispp was able to unlock :

Building a more inclusive and connected world where everyone’s voice can be heard, Whispp and Infobip are keen on breaking communication barriers and transforming the lives of those with voice disabilities.  

As a startup with nine dedicated team members, Whispp focuses on transitioning from a product development company to a full-fledged product company. They’re now available in Europe and the U.S. and looking to expand and distribute their mobile app worldwide.

Additionally, they are working on developing new features, such as a virtual microphone for video conferencing and solutions for live conversations.

Whispp’s AI-powered assistive voice technology is a game-changer for those with voice disabilities. It provides real-time, personalized voice conversion, making communication easier and more natural.

Their goal is to continue innovating and empowering unheard voices around the world, one conversation at a time.