Dari is an assistive communication ecosystem designed to bridge the communication gap between Deaf and hearing individuals through seamless, real-time, two-way interaction. Developed over a 26-week design process, the project was grounded in extensive user research, interviews, and co-design activities with members of the Deaf community to ensure that the solution addressed real challenges experienced in everyday life. The name Dari, meaning "bridge" in Korean, reflects the project's core mission of fostering meaningful connections and creating a world where communication is more accessible, inclusive, and equitable for everyone.
Many existing communication tools for Deaf individuals rely heavily on interpreters, smartphones, text-based exchanges, or one-way translation systems that can interrupt the natural flow of conversation. These solutions often create dependency, introduce delays, and fail to capture the emotional and contextual nuances that are essential to human interaction. Through research, key challenges were identified, including difficulties communicating in public environments, reliance on third parties for interpretation, and barriers to spontaneous social interactions. Dari was created to address these issues by enabling both Deaf and hearing individuals to communicate naturally using their preferred methods of communication.
The ecosystem consists of three integrated components. The first is Woori, an AI-powered EMG smart armband that recognizes sign language gestures through muscle movement and translates them into spoken or written language. The second is Sari, a pair of smart glasses that captures spoken language and provides real-time captions and contextual information directly within the user's field of view. The third component is a companion mobile application that supports device management, customization, communication history, and personalized settings. Together, these components create a communication experience that feels intuitive, unobtrusive, and human-centered.
Beyond translating words, Dari aims to preserve the natural rhythm of conversation and reduce the social barriers that often exist between Deaf and hearing communities. By allowing both users to communicate in the way that is most comfortable for them, the system promotes independence, confidence, and equal participation in conversations. The solution is designed to support a wide range of environments, including workplaces, educational settings, healthcare facilities, public services, and everyday social interactions.
Dari represents a vision of accessibility that goes beyond compliance and accommodation. It demonstrates how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, wearable computing, and human-centered design can be combined to create meaningful social impact. Rather than asking users to adapt to technology, Dari adapts technology to the needs of its users, making communication more natural and inclusive. Through its focus on empathy, accessibility, and human connection, the project seeks to empower individuals, strengthen communities, and contribute to a future where communication barriers no longer limit opportunities for participation, understanding, and belonging.
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