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Inclusive Chat - Spearheading Inclusive Communications

A single interaction with the deaf brought an idea of an inclusive communication system that would go a long way in ensuring privacy is maintained in personal conversations like that one of a patient and a doctor.

An Image of a man in blue t-shirt with a white collar. He is standing at a booth besides a large screen with presentations of Inclusive Chat, his innovation | © Jacob Mbugua

An image of Jacob Mbugua, Co-Founder of Inclusive Chat (Jacob Mbugua)

1.      Who is Jacob and what does he do?

My name is Jacob Mbugua. I'm a computer science student and software developer. I'm also a Co-founder at Inclusive Chat where we're bridging the gap between hearing and deaf individuals using the Chat interface that we've been able to innovate.

2.      What inspired you to come up with your innovation

During my industrial attachment at the county government of Uasin Gishu, I was working with the city department. I was able to interact with some of the deaf workers who are working there. And they have challenges in communicating with the other workers and in their offices. So, I decided that this could be an opportunity for me to use my skills to benefit some of the workers. That is how Inclusive Chat came into being. And we've been able to build it up to where it is right now.

3.      You said you are a co-founder, who’s the other co-founder and do you have deaf members in your team and are they meaningfully engaged?

I also do have a co-founder. Her name is Monica. She's deaf and she's an ICT officer at the county government offices. She has been instrumental in guiding the direction and issues on accessibility. She's basically influenced the direction we've taken in developing the application. We have a team of advisors comprising of the deaf working at the county government offices. I am the technical co-founder in charge of development, Monica oversees accessibility, and we also have another co-founder who manages marketing and engagement.

4.      Can you share a personal story or experience that motivated you to develop this app?

After interacting with some of the deaf workers by using the interpreter that was available, I was able to have some focus groups with them to discuss some of the issues that they were facing. From Interacting and sharing with individuals, particularly a story that inspired me. James is one of the workers working there. He shared an experience where he wanted to gain access to healthcare facility but was unable to share some of the symptoms that he was facing, and because he didn’t have an interpreter there, it was really a challenge for him to go to share and be able to get treatment. His story really inspired me and one of the priorities that we have under the application is healthcare communication.

5.      How does the app work and what are the unique features?

The app utilizes a chat interface to be able to facilitate communication between the hearing and a deaf user. A deaf user can type into to the app. Introducing themselves and this message is read aloud. Based on this the deaf can give to the phone other person. They can be able to read and understand what that the user is trying to communicate and reply accordingly.

6.      How do you see this app impacting the daily lives of deaf individuals in Kenya?

When I picture users using Inclusive chat, I see a deaf user being able to run a business by themselves, using the application to communicate with their customers. I also see healthier communication being transformed and being accessible and inclusive to the deaf. Any user who wants to access any healthcare facility would receive quality treatment and health care.

7.      Which are the use cases of Inclusive chat? Does it promote inclusive work?

 Yes, Inclusive chat is here to promote inclusive communication in the workplace and increase efficiency so deaf and hearing users can use the app to effectively work on tasks and be able to communicate. We are working on healthcare communication where doctors and patients, regardless of the hearing impairments, consult, communicate, get feedback and receive the treatment.

8.      How does one access Inclusive chat?

Inclusive chat is a web-based application meaning that users can be able to access it across all platforms or using any devices, so any laptop or phones. But also working to have it on distribution platforms like Apple Store Also on Google Play store so that you users can go to effectively download application and go to use it.

9.       If I want to access it now on my phone, what’s the process

Currently we have in place a link that you can share through social media platforms and scanning by QR code and Google to access the application. But you also have the application being distributed on Play store and for Apple store for IOS users.

10. What feedback have you received from users so far, and how has it influenced further development of the app?

So lately we've been trying to validate our idea and to receive feedback from our users. Last month we had 20 deaf students from Cambridge College in Eldoret and were able to receive feedback from them. They were really excited about the innovation and we're actually asking how can you get access to it? How can we better use it and the excitement is something that really goes to motivate our efforts in building Inclusive Chart and having it distributed. Basically, we have our users access it from wherever they are.

Interview conducted by: Maryanne Emomeri


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