LHU students to bring Sign Language App for the hearing-impaired to the U.S.

Inspired by a real-life experience communicating with a haring-impaired driver, a group of students from the Faculty of Information Technology at LHU successfully developed Adley — an application that translates spoken language into sign language using vivid visual illustrations. This humanitarian tech initiative aims to enhance communication and foster better inclusion for the hearing-impaired community in Vietnam.

LHU faculty and students during the ideation phase of the "Sign Language App for the hearing-impaired" project

After more than three months of development, Adley won Second place at the finals of the 7th Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) competition, organized by Arizona State University (ASU) and Dow Vietnam. Notably, LHU Adley proudly became the only team to represent LHU in the United States, following an invitation from ASU to participate in the Cintana Global Competition 2025 – Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Development.

To develop the App, the Adley team applied machine learning and trained an AI model using data from the Dictionary of Vietnamese Sign Language. Users can input text, record audio, or upload videos for the system to translate into sign language through animated visual illustrations, making communication easier and more accessible for the hearing-impaired.

“Although the app’s processing speed is still a bit slow at this stage, its accuracy is nearly flawless”, confirmed team leader Gia Huy.

A team representative presenting the project to the Scientific Council for approval to travel to the U.S.

Beyond translation support, Adley also integrates a free sign language course library with an option for paid advanced learning. Notably, it features a job search tool tailored to the hearing-impaired community, helping them find suitable jobs and improve their quality of life.

The project was carried out by a group of students including Hoang Gia Huy, Pham Bao Minh The, Vu Thi Kim Huong, Vi Hoai Thuong under the guidance of lecturer Bui Xuan Canh. The group developed a strict development process through the stages of: ideation, research and planning, product deployment, completion, and presentation preparation. They actively surveyed and listened to feedback from the hearing-impaired community to make the App more practical and user-friendly.

"It was these conversations that helped us gain a deeper understanding of the real needs and provided additional motivation to develop the project in a more meaningful and community-oriented way" shared Hoai Thuong.

EPICS judges praised Adley for clearly demonstrating a strong humanitarian spirit, with technology serving as a bridge to connect and support the community. In addition to being a communication support tool, Adley conveys messages of compassion and solidarity with the disadvantaged. The student team has proven that when technology is paired with empathy, it can create a far-reaching impact.

At LHU, project-based learning is an effective hands-on approach, helping both teachers and students enhance the quality of learning and scientific research

In the context of global digital transformation, LHU students' presence on the international stage is a testament to the University’s practice-oriented education and its comprehensive learning ecosystem. This not only reflects the students’ technical expertise and readiness for global integration, but also affirms the University’s strong commitment to community spirit and social responsibility.