“SPEEK”
Creators: Lucas
Middle School Students from Mouse Design League (DIIT) @ P.S. 207 The Rockwood Park School
Type of Project:
- Business & Marketing,
- Engineering,
- UX/UI Design
Themes of Project:
- Education/Schools,
- Mental Health,
- Social Justice
About this Project:
The issue that my app addresses is that people with nonverbal autism have trouble communicating with others. Oftentimes, it can be difficult for them to find what they want to say. However, you don’t need nonverbal autism, as people with regular autism can benefit from this app as well.
I learned about the design process from my teachers. To begin, I synthesized my information to draw out themes and keywords. I then learned from health-care professional mentors, and brainstormed ideas for solutions to help benefit people with nonverbal autism or regular autism spectrum disorder. I also created a storyboard using canva. This outlines the central idea of the entire project. It expounds upon the problem, solution, and outcome of the proect. Additionally, we created a “Happy Path” (using Jamboard) which goes more in depth into what each wireframe panel of the app is about, and finally, I created a “Napkin sketch” of my app design. However, the first step in creating this was learning about UX/UI design and how to create a wireframe using Figma.
My app works using text to speech. You will be greeted by a welcome screen where you enter your name and age. Older ages mean different recommendations for phrases than if you are younger. Then, you are asked if you’d like to make an account. Upon clicking yes, it allows you to pick whether you’d like to sign up with Google, Facebook, phone number, or email. This will then prompt you to sign up with a username and password. However, if you click the “I already have an account” button, it will bring you to the login screen. Here, you enter your username and password. AFterwards, when you first use the app, you will see a favorites selection screen. On this screen, you pick which phrases you want saved in your home screen. These will typically be the more common phrases, such as thank you, good morning, etc. Then after finishing that up, you will see your home screen. Here, you also have a text to speech box so that you can say anything, rather than what is only on the phrase cards. The app is a work in progress, as I continue to add color and images.
I learned about the design process from my teachers. To begin, I synthesized my information to draw out themes and keywords. I then learned from health-care professional mentors, and brainstormed ideas for solutions to help benefit people with nonverbal autism or regular autism spectrum disorder. I also created a storyboard using canva. This outlines the central idea of the entire project. It expounds upon the problem, solution, and outcome of the proect. Additionally, we created a “Happy Path” (using Jamboard) which goes more in depth into what each wireframe panel of the app is about, and finally, I created a “Napkin sketch” of my app design. However, the first step in creating this was learning about UX/UI design and how to create a wireframe using Figma.
My app works using text to speech. You will be greeted by a welcome screen where you enter your name and age. Older ages mean different recommendations for phrases than if you are younger. Then, you are asked if you’d like to make an account. Upon clicking yes, it allows you to pick whether you’d like to sign up with Google, Facebook, phone number, or email. This will then prompt you to sign up with a username and password. However, if you click the “I already have an account” button, it will bring you to the login screen. Here, you enter your username and password. AFterwards, when you first use the app, you will see a favorites selection screen. On this screen, you pick which phrases you want saved in your home screen. These will typically be the more common phrases, such as thank you, good morning, etc. Then after finishing that up, you will see your home screen. Here, you also have a text to speech box so that you can say anything, rather than what is only on the phrase cards. The app is a work in progress, as I continue to add color and images.
Project Media
Images
Slides
Video
Links
More About this Project
This is a link to my Figma app wireframe. It outlines what the app will look like. It also has a link to the Queens Chronicle newspaper article that describes our "Pitch Day".
Share this project:
Community Feedback:
Fun
Innovative
Helpful
Great Design
Makes Me Think
Feedback from the Judges:
The presentation is good. He needs to get the app produced.
I love how you thought of making your app stand out in searches by naming it SPEEK! That was such a brilliant idea. In terms of the features, I also really like how you let the user select their most-used phrases. One recommendation for future iterations is to allow them to type in their own entries so they are not constantly typing in their phrases over and over again.
Feedback from the Community:
Angela 👏 a Teacher and/or Educator from NYC
This app was so well thought-out and executed. You are so articulate in your presentation, and I love all the features you discussed in your wireframe presentation. It's clear you did a tremendous amount of work to develop this app working by yourself. And it will serve such an important social need for our communities. I hope to see this app in my app store in the future!
Barbara 👏 a Teacher and/or Educator from NYC DOE
This app design shows such a creative, empathetic approach toward helping people suffering with this disorder. You put so much effort into this design! Well done!
Liam 👏 a Middle School Student from NYC, Queens.
I love this app design! It helps people with non-verbal autism and it's beautifully done. The app is designed perfectly.
Fan 👏 a Middle School Student from queens
I really like your title because your title "Speech" make people think a lot and and it has really big connect to nonverbal autism. Your board was also very beautiful. I really like it.
richard 👏 a Middle School Student from New York
This would help somebody I know because they have a hard time saying and interpreting words, and they also like using electronics. Innovative and helpful idea.
michael 👏 a Middle School Student
I loved this design in person. Not only that but the app its self was amazing! great job!
isabella 👏 a Middle School Student from Howard Beach
This was a wonderful presintation
Annie 👏 a Middle School Student from Howard Beach
This was a wonderful persintation.
andi 👏 a Middle School Student from NYC
yes my cusoin lucas. Good job
Peter 👏 a Middle School Student from NYC
Nice job Lucas you worked hard.
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