Designed by Samuel Nagel and Paul Feiler, the Nura converts sign language into speech in real time
What sits nicely on your wrist and functions as a kind of hearing aid? That would be the Nura, a wearable communication device that doesn’t just convert sign language into speech, but translates speech into readable text.
Conjured by design students Samuel Nagel and Paul Feiler, the sleek wearable device won them €20,000 at the fourth edition of the annual Rimowa Design Prize. The prize, a celebration of German design excellence, acts as an incubator for aspiration ideas, with this year’s theme centred around mobility.
The winning bracelet, selected from seven finalists by a jury of industry leaders, serves as a bridge between the deaf and hearing. What looks like a Fitbit of sorts, was developed under the mentorship of Siemens Healthineers head of industrial design Tim Richter. The Nura utilises electromyography sensors to capture sign language through muscle activity in the forearm, and thanks to an integrated camera that will analyse multiple forms of non-verbal communication, facial expressions are also taken into account, so as to provide a more accurate interpretation.
Coming in second is Niklas Henning, who received €10,000 and a Special Mention award for his Paludi Harvester. Developed under the guidance of Stefan Daniel, the Leica Camera vice president of photo and design, the system aims to restore peatlands through sustainable reed farming, reducing the physical strain on workers and maintaining agricultural productivity even in freezing conditions.
