SOCIAL INNOVATION GENERATION

1. Social Business Idea

a. Social Mantra

2. ESG preparedness

a. The problem

In Mexico there are more than 2 million people with hearing disabilities that every day face the barrier of communication in public places, with Handslate we seek to change this situation.   

It is important for us to be part of our community, but for deaf individuals, it’s not the same. They face challenges communicating in public places and with people who don’t know sign language. This is due to the lack of education in Mexican society about sign language and the exclusion of the deaf community, resulting in a communication barrier.

Currently, the market for sign language interpreting applications has not been sufficiently explored. We have identified one competitor:
Ava, who uses speech recognition technology to break down communication barriers. The app provides a real-time transcript of the dialogue and is priced at $149 per month for at least 12 hours of transcription, with the price dropping to $119 for the annual plan. However, we have identified issues such as limited usage based on hours and insufficient support for deaf individuals.

b. Our solution

Handslate is the perfect solution! With our app, you can interpret Mexican Sign Language into text and vice versa. Whether you are in a business meeting, traveling around the country, or simply going to a public place such as restaurants, hotels, shopping malls, government offices, or educational institutions, our app will facilitate communication so that the hearing-impaired population can communicate freely through an app that will identify their signs and turn them into text. 

With an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, the application is adapted to the activities of the tertiary economic sector (services). It uses artificial intelligence based on convolutional neural networks, which analyze and interpret visual patterns captured through the device’s camera. This generates precise responses when interpreting signs, offering an innovative and accessible solution for inclusive communication.

Our solution is to establish Handslate in various public places, including:

• Food and beverage establishments
• Lodging establishments
• Commercial establishments
• Educational institutions
• Government sector
• Telecommunications sector
• Leisure, sports, and entertainment services
• Media sector
• Public services (firefighters, police, among others)
• Cultural sector
• Legal and juridical sectors

3. Stakeholder engagement

a. Engagement strategy 

The strategy to have the support of stakeholders is as follows:

1. Identify stakeholders: For our social enterprise, in Mexico they are the Mexican Institute of Sign Language, Coalition of Deaf People , Association of Hotels and Motels, National Chamber of the Restaurant and Condimented Food Industry, Governments, National Association of Universities and Institutions of Higher Education, among other institutions.
2. Understand their needs: Conduct research and surveys to understand stakeholder needs and concerns.
3. Customize the message: Highlight how the application will specifically address their needs and concerns.
4. Demonstrate our value: Provide concrete examples and case studies that show the value and positive impact of your application.
5. Clear and transparent communication: Communicate our goals, values and progress clearly and transparently to all stakeholders.
6. Involving stakeholders in the process: Inviting stakeholders to participate in the development and continuous improvement of the application.

b. Social support campaign performance

Moral and financial support received from stakeholders we have approached:

• Morale Support:
  Acknowledgment: They recognize the importance of inclusion and equal access for all people regardless of their hearing abilities.
  Awareness: They understand the barriers that deaf people face in everyday communication.
  Empathy: They put themselves in the shoes of deaf people to understand their specific challenges and needs.
  Advocacy: They talk about the importance of accessibility and inclusion in all aspects of life, including technology.
• Financial Support:
  Grants: Share grant opportunities available for projects that promote inclusion and accessibility.
  Collaborations: Give the opportunity to collaborate with educational institutions, non-profit organizations and businesses that share our social goals.

4. Learning curve

a. Learning obtained

As Handslate evolves towards social entrepreneurship and a broader community, significant changes in its focus, scope and objectives are observed, some of which include: a focus on social impact, which as the project progresses, will increasingly focus on generating a positive and sustainable social impact on the deaf community and society at large, this implies not only providing an innovative technological solution, but also addressing more comprehensively the needs and challenges of deaf people, including the promotion of equal opportunities, inclusion and empowerment.

In addition, as a social enterprise, Handslate is developing a variety of complementary services and resources designed to support deaf people in different aspects of their lives, such as education, employment, health, and wellness. These include communication skills training programs, counseling, and emotional support services, and educational and awareness tools. Adding the opportunity to formalize strategic alliances with non-profit organizations, academic institutions, businesses, and governments to implement joint development of programs and projects, dissemination of resources and knowledge, and promotion of inclusive policies and practices.