Samsung Spain
Client: Samsung Spain
Product: Galaxy Watch
Title: Impulse
Media: App, website, film, social media, digital platforms
Country: Spain
Date Of Campaign: March 2024
Background: Speech therapy has been one of the medical specialties that has evolved the least since its beginnings. It was time to boost the use of advanced technologies to improve the treatment of more than 100M people affected by speech disorders worldwide, including those with Alzheimer's, stroke, dementia, ALS, stuttering … And there was no better scenario than Spain, a country with one of the languages most associated with stuttering.In this context and after in-depth research, Samsung discovered a free and accessible technological solution for different disorders (dysphasia, dysprosody & dysphemia) with various causes, which have historically been treated separately. With the intention to voice the thoughts of 1% of the world's population through a common remedy: rhythm.More specifically, rhythm therapy, a proven speech therapy technique, stimulates pace, a universal language that we all understand from birth. By using an analogue metronome, a subconscious rhythm is created in the brain to improve linguistic fluency.The evolution and democratization of this treatment could mean a great change for a group ignored by the Spanish health system. Since speech therapists are not covered by Social Security, thousands of people cannot afford a consultation.
Idea: Impulse is an Artificial Intelligence app for Galaxy Watch and Android tab & mobile devices that helps people with speech disorders, 1% of the world's population. Through an algorithm based on Natural Language Processing, it analyzes and translates words into rhythmic vibrations allowing users to have an invisible and inaudible haptic assistant on their wrist, which helps to synchronize brain with speech.An innovative and pioneering idea that democratizes speech therapy, making it universally accessible. This multifunctional application helps users in many situations through voice assistance, AI speech coach and Rhythm & Tone exercises. All functions are based on a subconscious rhythm that activates speech neural impulses. Thanks to this free technology users' speech is freed up no matter what language they speak.Impulse has been designed with a built-in algorithm based on Apache Open NLP, an Artificial Intelligence library used for Natural Language Processing, which enables smart decoding of syllables into rhythms through the watch's vibrometer.In addition, the application features voice wave recognition technology to compare the exercises recorded by the user with the reference dictated by a specialist and then displays a performance report.Last but not least, the tool uses the most advanced technologies of a modern Android app, both on mobile and smartwatch, with the Kotlin programming language and the Jetpack Compose toolkit for the interface.
Results: To date, the results are promising. After more than 6 months of testing and development in Spain, Portugal, Ghana, USA and United Arab Emirates, the feedback has been more than positive from patients, physicians and therapists. Their testimonials and rating of 4.5/5 demonstrate that Impulse is a useful treatment that will have a remarkable impact and be of great value to the speech therapy, phoniatrics and audiology disciplines.So much so that it received the endorsement of the Spanish Society of Neurologists and the Portuguese Society of Speech Therapy.After launching the free app in the Iberian market at the end of March on download platforms, downloads began both in Google Play and Galaxy Store and the news conversation started. The main national and international media echoed, both generalist and specialized in marketing & advertising. In addition, members of the community, health professionals and Spanish and Portuguese associations of language disorders helped to spread the news on social networks.Impulse continues the work done by Samsung in its Technology with Purpose campaign. For over a decade, the brand has worked on more than 30 projects with an investment of +€25M to help and improve people's lives through technology and innovation.