Who invented SignAloud and why?

SignAloud was developed by two undergraduate students at the University of Washington, Navid Azodi and Thomas Pryor. They entered the technology into the Lemelson-MIT Student Prize competition, winning the “Use It” undergraduate category for its innovative approach. Their purpose was to create an easy-to-use bridge between native ASL users and the broader world, rooted in a belief that communication is a fundamental human right. The idea grew out of their shared interest in invention and problem solving, coupled with a desire to improve accessibility for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.