This idea was originally to use the voice translation technology that already exists in programs like Google Translate and Speak and Translate and simply pair an entire dictionary of words to illustrations as a way to communicate with deaf or hard of hearing people or especially people of a different language who can not read.
I think this idea or simply typing messages is a better alternative for speaking to hard of hearing people.
The idea could still be helpful when trying to communicate with people who can not read, but that got me thinking, "who else can't read?"
I think this could be an excellent educational tool for babies and toddlers. It could either help them understand the stories you are telling them or be a tool for them to practise speaking with.
It could be quite basic, having a specific picture connected to specific words, or it could possibly be more intelligent, where it would be able to take in an entire sentence or paragraph and display an appropriate sequence or maybe as tech evolves even a short animation, I don't think the technology is at that level yet so I won't concentrate on it too much.
For educational purposes it would show the word along with the picture, just like posters in kindergarten classes. That way, users would hear the word, see an image of what it refers to and also see how it is spelled.
I have found many programs, tools and games that pronounce and spell words if you click on a picture, but none that work the other way around. If the program is written well it could make stories even more interesting for children when they are listening, while motivating them to explore their vocabulary when they speak.
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