UAE Student Creates HearMe App to Translate Sign Language into Text
Reem Al Bostami developed an AI-powered sign language app despite limited resources during lockdown. Although she lacked access to university tools, she continued building the project from home. As a result, her determination led to the creation of HearMe, which later secured a patent.
The platform translates sign language into written text and converts typed text into animated signing in real time. Moreover, it supports multiple systems, including American Sign Language and French Sign Language. Therefore, it enables communication across diverse linguistic communities.
“It feels surreal,” Al Bostami said. “Getting my degree was already a big milestone, but being able to go beyond that and contribute to something meaningful beyond academics, through work that helps people, made it even more rewarding. I’ve always wanted to do something significant, not just academically, but through projects that create tangible, real-world impact. That mindset is what pushed me into software development in the first place.”
Addressing Real-World Communication Barriers
The technology tackles everyday communication challenges faced by people with hearing impairments. In fact, Modafar Ati highlighted how routine interactions often become difficult. Consequently, many individuals struggle with spontaneous conversations in daily life.
“Imagine trying to order coffee or asking a pharmacist a question,” Ati said. “For millions of sign language users, even a simple two-way conversation remains a barrier. What gets missed is all the spontaneous conversations, the side comment in a meeting, the question a student raises in class. These moments happen in seconds, but for a person with hearing impairment, each one requires extra effort, patience, or support from others,” he said.
According to global estimates, hundreds of millions live with disabling hearing loss, and the number continues to rise. Therefore, accessible communication tools remain increasingly important. HearMe focuses on real-time, two-way translation for settings such as classrooms, workplaces, and healthcare environments.
Growth, Impact, and Future Vision
Al Bostami built the early version independently while learning machine learning from scratch. However, limited access to hardware and resources made the process challenging. Still, persistence and experimentation helped bring the system together.
“The hardest part was learning about machine learning and AI from scratch, at a time when the field wasn’t as mature or widely accessible as it is today,” she said. “Access to resources was limited, most of the hardware and tools I needed were at university and I didn’t have the same setup at home. The initial implementation involved a lot of trial and error before things started to come together. It was challenging, but also more rewarding because of that.”
Ati emphasized that the patent reflects a broader mission of inclusion and accessibility. “HearMe was developed with a clear purpose, to facilitate accessible communication and address real-world challenges, strengthening the participation of individuals with hearing impairments in academic and professional environments,” he said. “We take pride in this not just as a technical achievement, but as a contribution to the UAE’s national priorities of inclusion, accessibility, and sustainable development.”
For Al Bostami, the achievement also carries personal meaning tied to Abu Dhabi. “I genuinely want to give back to the city I grew up in and consider home, I’ve always seen Abu Dhabi as a hub for technology and development, and I wanted to be part of that progress. Being able to contribute within my own field makes it even more meaningful.”
Meanwhile, further development and rollout plans aim to expand the platform across academic and professional settings. As a result, the project continues to align with broader national goals focused on inclusion and accessibility.
