INNOVATIVE PROBLEM SOLVINGby

Raliya Abdulkadir @00567855

MSc. Managing innovation and information technology

What is the Business Problem

Sign languages used in several parts of Nigeria are not consistent with the universal sign language.

For example, a study by Asonye, Emma-Asonye& Edward (2018) indicated that the sign language used in Enugu and Abuja in the Nigeria is discovered to be different.

Need for a platform through which this disharmony can be eliminated.

Why is this a problem?

Out of a population of 180 million Nigerians, an estimated 23% of the population is believed to have some form of hearing impairment such as deafness, hearing loss and other hearing related impairments (Treat, 2006)

Similarly, 84% of those with hearing impairment in the country were found to be uneducated (Eleweke,Agboola & Guteng, 2015)

There are situations when the deaf could not expressed himself to the clear understanding of the hearing. (Treat, 2006)

It causes a lot of communication nightmare

Challenges

• Deaf people mostly obtain knowledge through vision and touch (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 2012)

• The lower the ability to hear, the more demand for visual aids to understand conversations effectively (NIDCD, 2012)

• They often use visual symbols for their notes or draw pictures to express their opinions and deliver the intended messages (NIDCD, 2012)

DAA• Deaf Assistance Application

Deaf people

Age – 10 - 50 +

Ethnicity – Nigerian

Location – Nigeria

GOALS

• Wants to get assistance

• Is eager to interact with lots of other

people

• Wants to build great relationships with

friends and family

• Want education

FEARS, CHALLENGES AND PROBLEMS

• Feels pressured due to dependency

• Are stressed out by communication difficulty

• Struggles to handle the communication.

SOLUTION

• Need Hearing assistance at reasonable

price

• To reduce communication difficulty by

developing voice or visual assistant.

DECISION MAKING

• Always struggling to communicate.

• Prefers to gather information by writing or

visual aid

• Believes in interpreters.

• Hates to get bothered by sales calls

Enjoys the company of family and friends

Market survey of DAA

A Market segment of how the product can be delivered to the

users for value creation is adopted.

Based on research and consultation of experts ,and market survey in

collaboration with Man Global Solution Limited

(A Leading APP developer in Nigeria).

The estimated cost setting up in Nigeria

can be from 4-5million

Naira(£10,000).

Opportunities

To enhance communication

To improve interaction

To help radically improve a deaf persons connection to the world

To improve the life of deaf people who face inequality everyday

Among the people who are suffering from the hearing and hearing impaired in Nigeria and other similar societies

Building the DAA

Application Prototype

BUILDING THE APPLICATION THAT

WILL ASSIST THE DEAF COMMUNICATE EFFORTLESSLY

AN APPLICATION THAT IS BOTH TECHNICALLY

AND ARTISTICALLY CONVENIENT AND

EASY FOR THE END-USER.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE END-USER FIND THE INTERFACE AS

EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR SEAMLESS USE OF THE

APPLICATION.

TRADITIONAL Vs PROPOSED

3-visual materials

Deliverables

The application is available for free and can be found in Google Play store, Apple Store and other stores.

Would not take much space on devices.

It will be an easy to use app even to first timers as it can be operated effortlessly

All deaf and people with hearing difficulties can use the app

The Innovative solution

• The App will go a long way in enhancing communication problem between the deaf and the hearing in such places as home, marketplaces, schools, entertainment centres and other places of gathering.

• The App will be a “must-have” for the deaf in Nigeria and beyond. It will be an all-time companion for the deaf in the school, at home, in the marketplace or anywhere, where proficiency in sign language is a hindrance.

Why is it Innovative

There are lot of different languages in Nigeria

Evidence indicated there is no deaf image base mobile phone application in Nigeria

Other available apps in market lack most of the basic spoken languages in Nigeria

This app will include the basic local languages spoken in Nigeria

The visual pictures and keyboard in the app has a voice recorder that will enhance the user interface.

It is design to create an experience that is as visual and expressive as possible .

Resources needed to

develop the app

• Sponsors for funding the design and development

• Nigerian National Association of deaf (NNAD)

• Deaf Woman Association of Nigerian (DWAN)

• Insights on competing apps in market

• MTN Foundation

• Special Man Global Solution Limited(A Leading APP Developer in Nigeria)

Deaf people can do anything that hearing people can do except hearing. “Dr king Jordan”

References• Asonye, E.I., Emma-Asonye, E. & Edward, M. (2018). Deaf in Nigeria: A

Preliminary Survey of Isolated Deaf Community. Sage Publication, Vol. 8, No. 2

• Eleweke, J., Agboola, I., Guteng, S. (2015). Reviewing the pioneering roles of Gallaudet university alumni in advancing deaf education and services in developing countries: Insights and challenges from Nigeria. American Annals of the Deaf, 160, 75-83. Retrieved from https://www.questia.com/read/1P3-3767020871/reviewing-the-pioneering-roles-of-gallaudet-university Google Scholar

• Treat, S. (2016). How Deaf Education and Special Education is being advanced in Nigeria. Gallaudet university: Retrieved from https://prezi.com/ckdvqq0rv5cx/deaf-education/ Google Scholar

• NIH/National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (2012, July 10). Deaf brain processes touch differently: Lacking sound input, the primary auditory cortex 'feels' touch. ScienceDaily. Retrieved August 3, 2019 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120710171733.htm