So very grateful for this project and I am hopeful this will help many who struggle to communicate their thoughts to the world.
Project Euphonia
Project Euphonia is a Google Research initiative focused on helping people with atypical speech be better understood. The approach is centered on analyzing speech recordings to better train speech recognition models.
Helping people be better understood
For millions of people around the world whose speech is difficult for others to understand, face-to-face communication can be very challenging. Using voice-activated technologies can be frustrating, too. While tools like Google Home or the Google Assistant can help people call someone, adjust lighting, or play a favorite song, they may not work as well for those with impaired speech.
How you can help
Though speech recognition algorithms have heard millions of examples of words and phrases from people whose voices sound “typical,” the algorithms have not heard nearly as many examples from people with impaired speech. If you’re 18-years-of-age or older and have a voice that may be considered difficult to understand (but not because of an accent), you can assist us in our research by recording a set of phrases in exchange for a gift card.
Record phrases for Google ResearchWe engage with individuals with a wide array of conditions, including ALS, stroke, traumatic brain injury, deafness, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and MS.
What our users say about us
I'm with you for the long haul. I want to make this work. I used Google Assistant to gain my independence…This program means so much to me and other people like me.
We are excited about the possibilities! Language barriers have a huge impact on my very intelligent daughter's independence. It could really be a life changer for her.
I have quadriplegic cerebral palsy, so I cannot express to you how very excited I am to join this project and better speech recognition for all of us who struggle with impediments.
I have been working with an assistive technology person who is helping me integrate AI in my daily life and my working environment. I am someone who struggles with speech difficulties due to a rare disease, Friedreich's ataxia (FA). Speech difficulty is different for every case, but a very marked symptom in the disease. I have found that devices/programs like Google home have made a huge impact. I am so excited to be a part of hopefully seeing improvement and changes.
How our research works
While research timelines can be long and unpredictable, our goal is to eventually improve everyday life by making it easier for people to communicate and to be understood.
We want to thank our valued partners: ALS TDI, ALSA, Canadian Down Syndrome Society, CPA of NYS, CureDuchenne, LSVT Global, MNDA, Team Gleason.