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When lived experience becomes innovation
In the second episode of Season 3 of Pathways to Zero Barriers, David Betts shares how his ALS diagnosis inspired him to rethink how Assistive Technology Innovations are developed. As founder of Storyflight Labs, David dedicated his time and energy to creating Talk to Me, Goose! —an AI-powered communication platform designed to support people whose natural speech is impaired or at risk.
Preserving Human Connection
The conversation explores how generative AI, voice cloning, and predictive text can move beyond transactional communication to preserve personality, dignity, and human connection. David also discusses the barriers that still prevent many people from accessing assistive technology—from cost and complexity to lengthy processes—and explains why these are challenges that innovation can address.
Drawing on his own experience of building Talk to Me, Goose! Without a coding background, David shares how he tackled the three biggest challenges in assistive communication: cost, access, and complexity. With an estimated 97 million potential beneficiaries worldwide, he argues that assistive technology should not simply help people communicate more efficiently—it should empower them to remain themselves.
Pathways to Zero Barriers
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