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SOAPBOX LABS, THE speech recognition startup, has inked a new deal with Microsoft that will see its tech deployed in a school pilot programme to prove it has a global, scalable product.
The startup, sometimes referred to as a ‘Siri for kids’, develops speech recognition tools that can help children improve language, reading and writing skills.
With Microsoft, it will be delivering artificial intelligence-powered speech recognition technology to help close gaps in child literacy skills. The app for schools is being deployed on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform.
Citing figures from UNESCO, SoapBox Labs said there are 175 million children that lack basic literacy skills.
The pilot project will run for two to three months in 20 schools in Ireland and the UK.
“The schools are running the trial, they will get the kids to use the app, the kids can interact with and use (it) to progress their phonics and language acquisition,” chief operating officer Martyn Farrows said.
As part of the deal, Microsoft is providing SoapBox Labs with $250,000 worth of Azure credits, which are needed to access the cloud computing service.
Using the Azure platform, SoapBox Labs will be able “to generate some evidence to support the rollout of the project globally”, Farrows said.
“We’ve taken that step to demonstrate the efficacy more broadly. Then we’ll work with global partners who already have content in different territories around the world to deliver our technology and voice enable their products.”
SoapBox Labs is led by chief executive Patricia Scanlon. Over the last two years, the Dublin-based startup has raised €3.3 million from investors including Elsktone as well as from the EU’s SME Instrument.
Scanlon is in Washington DC this week amid the Taoiseach’s cohort for St Patrick’s Day. Farrows said the trip will include more partner talks that the company hopes to announce details of in the coming weeks.
Future projects
Farrows added that SoapBox Labs has thousands of children using its tech in different services to improve speech and language skills or to engage with content.
The tech has seen particular interest in markets like Asia among children aged three or four and above that are learning English as a second language, Farrows said.
“Accessibility is a big driver for us as well – kids that want to interface with technology that they might not be able to do with a traditional interface like keyboards and mouse but can use their voice,” he said.
“Beyond that then we’re looking at application areas in robotics, smart toys, connected devices like smart TVs, so anywhere you would expect a child to interface with technology using their voice whether it’s education, consumer, entertainment purposes.”
Written by Jonathan Keane and posted on Fora.ie
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Of course it was an Irish budget; it took much from those that need most, and took nothing from those that have most.
Just one example…three rows of social houses across the street from me…car or two in front of each of them…trips to the post office every week…work?…what for?…we have everything for free…i hope i will see them soon leaving home in the morning to go and work hard, just like me!
Good man. There are jobs out there.temporary maybe. Interns maybe. Free college or fas courses maybe. But defo no excuse to be at home all day
Agree wholeheartedly with the Senator – the budget reflects profound ideological choices about the kind of Ireland we want.
Neither party has outlined any kind of vision beyond balancing the books – this is a massive failing.
I think it was a very good budget.. Its not going to impact much on those who are working. There are currently 10,000 jobs advertised in ireland… So jobs there are, i think the budget was a push to get people back to work.
Alex. When I see the “back to work” slogan used regarding this budget it makes me laugh. Very few employers in their right mind will employ anyone unless absolutely necessary with this proposal for them to pay first 4 weeks of sick pay.
What are we paying PRSI for again? Oh yeah, for when we’re all on the dole!
And even if the 10,000 jobs figure is correct (where are you getting that from, btw?), there are well over 300,000 people unemployed in this country at the moment. And what about the 140 companies that went under in the past month?
“Incentivising” people to go take jobs that aren’t there, by placing them
In danger of poverty, pushing them deeper into poverty. Weak justification, given the circumstances.
Well I think was a good budget. There are politics to how the decisions can be made and they did their best. But they should have put a few euro on the fags. That way unemployed people won’t smoke away their social welfare. And don’t tell me unemployed strapped for cash people should have the freedom to smoke blah blah
Have you something against the Unemployed then Aidan ?
That’s all very well and good, but you are actually speaking about an addiction. And forcing them to quit is infringing on their rights, whether it’s a silly decision to smoke or not.
If a person on the dole had a worse addiction like heroin we wouldn want them to spend their dole on it and smoking is no different.. I dont mind paying tax for the needy or for education and healthcare but you can get fucked if you think im paying for someone to smoke 20 a day and live in the local bookies.. Tax the shite out of bad habits I say…
@yosser. I have something against the unemployed smoking my tax money. As stated. Now please stop with your amazingly silly point
Aidan. You’d never look in the mirror for me and tell the cranky man to stop making his amazingly silly points.
Can they smoke their own tax money? I’m pretty sure the 14% out of work haven’t always been on the dole.
Yeah lads great being on the dole money for nothing ….Working 5 days a week on the black market couldn’t beat it !! You just keep on paying your taxes good lads ….
Unemployed because they chose it as their lifestyle?…YES…because they are too lazy?…f..k YES! They feel far too comfortable with the dole coming to their pockets every week and don’t even think about doing anything towards finding a job. Not all of them of course, but surely a lot of them.
Es war sicherlich ein irischer budget!!
enjoy! :)
Bitterly disappointed to hear Dr Zappone on with Ivan Yates during the week. Dr Zappone talked about how great the Seanad was but guys like me (taxpayers) have no say because I went to the “wrong” university. Another taxpayer (a friend who happens to own and run a shop, and is doing so very successfully during a recession) who pays a lot more tax than I do gets zero say because he didn’t go to college. Another friend, a supremely intelligent guy doesn’t get a vote because he got his degree (a First Class Honours) at Baliol, Oxfod. It is a bit rich cribbing and moaning about inclusiveness when you are happy to partake in the most obscenely undemocratic instituion imaginable.
Huge respect for gay rights work, but the fact that Dr Zappone went out of her way to say how great the Seanad was makes my blood boil.
Dump the euro
Balance the books
Problem sorted
Ooops! One small problem. The public sector might have to take a pay cut. I guess we will just have to make our children pay instead. Simples.
@Rommel the country is in debt. If you can find their own tax money you are some man. Otherwise cop on
@Aidan
Can civil and public servants smoke? After all you’re paying their wages too. Or are they exempt because they contribute tax? The majority of the unemployed have contributed plenty over the years too you know. Why not hammer drink in the budget too?
@Rommel public and civil service can do what they want with their disposable income. Don’t be so silly. Look, ill spell it out for you like a kids story it might help you: So if you were unemployed, you’re sitting with your partner scratching your head over how you are going to financially cope, and her and your feet are sore from walking through Dublin at the anti budget protest and she turns to you and says ‘Rommel, please give up the fags for a start, that will help, there is too much money being smoked. You smoke twenty a day. That’d sixty a week, a third of your job seekers allowance ‘ ‘why no honey, it’s my right to smoke, I’ll smoke if I want, I’ve worked long enough over the years so I’ll do what I want, so goodnight’
End of
“public and civil service can do what they want with their disposable income”, but not the unemployed? Why not? I got news for you, it’s none of your business.
End of.
@Rommel buddy surely you know that disposable income is that of money left after tax. Unemployed receive allowance, support. Incomparable in my opinion. Anyway have a good Friday night. I’m headin out for a fag
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