A team of young innovators from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) is set to represent Bangladesh at the Rice360 Global Health Technologies Design Competition in Houston, Texas, USA, on 10 to 11 April, 2025.
The team, SignTalk, has successfully secured U.S. visas and is gearing up to present their groundbreaking assistive technology project on an international stage, competing against some of the brightest minds in global health innovation.
SignTalk: Bridging the Communication gap
SignTalk is a pioneering initiative aimed at empowering the deaf and mute community through technology. The team is developing a smart glove that utilises advanced machine learning models to translate sign language into speech in real time, facilitating seamless communication for individuals with hearing and speech impairments.
This AI-driven innovation has the potential to revolutionise accessibility by making daily interactions easier for millions of people worldwide.
Meet the minds behind SignTalk
The team consists of four students from different academic disciplines at SUST:
- Susmita Jahan Supty (Department of Mathematics)
- Rudra Sarker (Department of IPE)
- Mahbub Ahmed Chowdhury (Department of Mathematics)
- Irfan Nafiz Shahan (Department of EEE)
They are guided by renowned advisors: Dr. Farzana Hussain, Dr. Rashed Talukdar, Dr. Nancy Griesinger and Bill Griesinger, MBA.
Journey to the prestigious Rice360 competition
The Rice360 Global Health Technologies Design Competition is one of the world’s most competitive platforms for student-driven healthcare innovations. Out of hundreds of applications from around the globe, only 24 teams have been selected for the final round—Team SignTalk being one of them.
This prestigious competition offers an invaluable opportunity for the team to showcase their innovation, receive expert feedback, and connect with global leaders in healthcare technology. The event will feature top student teams presenting low-cost, high-impact solutions aimed at addressing critical global health challenges, particularly in resource-limited settings.
Seeking sponsorship to represent Bangladesh on a global stage
Despite successfully securing their visas, Team SignTalk is now seeking sponsorship to cover travel expenses from Sylhet to Houston. The team is reaching out to individuals, organisations, and well-wishers who are willing to support their journey.
How you can help
If you would like to support Team SignTalk, you can reach out to Mahbub Ahmed Chowdhury, the team leader, at:
Email: [email protected]
Cell: +880 1568-213626