About SpeakClear
Our Mission
SpeakClear exists to ensure that clear communication is a right, not a privilege. We believe that language and hearing barriers shouldn't prevent anyone from participating fully in conversations, presentations, or educational settings. Our vision is a world where real-time captioning is universally available, making interactions seamless for everyone regardless of hearing ability, language proficiency, or learning differences.
The Spark Behind SpeakClear
It was late 2024, the buzz of the Griffith University Alumni Awards filling the room. Amidst the celebration and speeches, my attention kept drifting to the corner of the stage. There, under the warm lights, were the sign language interpreters. I watched, fascinated, as they seamlessly translated spoken words into fluid motion. But then I noticed it, the subtle signs of fatigue, the necessary swap every 20 minutes. They were pouring immense energy into bridging a communication gap, and it was visibly demanding.
That image struck a deep chord. My mind immediately went to my dad. He lives with significant hearing loss, navigating a world of muffled sounds and missed conversations every single day. He doesn't get a tag-team interpreter; he faces that communication barrier constantly, often feeling isolated in conversations others take for granted. Seeing the interpreters' intense effort highlighted the sheer scale of the challenge my own father, and countless others, face moment to moment.
Later that night, scrolling through my phone, the irony hit me like a ton of bricks. TikToks, Reels, YouTube shorts - all effortlessly displaying captions. We've normalised instant, accessible text overlays in our digital entertainment, benefiting everyone, not just those who need them. It's become an expected part of the experience. A thought crystallised, sharp and clear: Why was this seamless accessibility, so common on our screens, almost non-existent in the most crucial place - real-time, face-to-face conversations? The disconnect felt enormous, almost absurd.
That question didn't just sit there; it ignited something. It wasn't just an observation anymore; it felt like a responsibility. The contrast between the digital ease and the real-world struggle, personified by the dedicated interpreters and my own father's experience, created an urgent pull. Sleep wasn't really an option that night; the idea had taken root.
The very next morning, fuelled by that conviction, I registered the name: Speakclear. And then, driven by this newfound clarity, I dove in. Forget weeks of planning, within 24 hours, hunched over my computer, I had hacked together the first, incredibly rough prototype. It wasn't pretty, it wasn't polished, but when I spoke, and the words appeared on the screen in near real-time... it worked.
That moment wasn't just about code compiling; it was a glimpse of the future. It confirmed what that night at the awards ceremony had sparked: technology could step into this gap. Not to replace the vital, nuanced work of human interpreters, but to amplify accessibility, to bring a layer of understanding to everyday conversations, scaling the bridge across communication divides in a way human effort alone simply cannot. That raw prototype wasn't just a piece of tech; it was the start of making sure fewer people, like my dad, feel left out of like my dad, feel left out of the conversation. That's why Speakclear exists.
- Jarrer Hensel
The Problem We Solve
Over 1.5 billion people worldwide live with hearing loss, and countless others face language barriers or processing challenges. In real-world settings, these individuals often:
- Miss critical information in educational settings, limiting learning opportunities
- Feel isolated in social gatherings where they can't follow conversations
- Struggle in professional environments where clear communication is essential
- Face exhaustion from the constant mental effort of trying to fill in gaps
- Rely on human interpreters who, despite their skill, can only work for limited periods
Existing solutions are often expensive, internet-dependent, require specific hardware, or lack the accuracy needed for reliable communication. SpeakClear bridges these gaps with technology that works anywhere, anytime, on common displays.
Our Approach & Values
At SpeakClear, we approach real-time captioning with four core values that guide everything we do:
Our advanced speech models combine OpenAI Whisper and Google Cloud Speech technologies for superior accuracy even in noisy environments. Multiple AI models working together achieve better results than any single solution.
All processing happens locally with no data sent to the cloud. Your conversations stay private with nothing stored unless you explicitly choose to save it. Accessibility never compromises privacy.
Works with standard displays, requires minimal technical knowledge, and remains affordable compared to traditional solutions. Designed for use in virtually any setting with minimal setup requirements.
Engineered for consistent performance without internet dependency. You're never left without captions when they matter most, even in challenging environments where other solutions fail.
Our commitment extends beyond the technology – we actively seek feedback from diverse user communities to continuously improve our solutions. We believe that by combining powerful AI with thoughtful design and a deep understanding of real human needs, we can transform how people communicate.