TalkBox

Traditional services such as Teams, Zoom, and Discord have several drawbacks and inconveniences that come along with them. The following points illustrate how our design takes a few different approaches to providing users with an alternative communication solution:

Other Services:
Tedious task to set up calls and meetings that occur very frequently.
Users must find a contact, set-up the call, and wait for the contact to pick up the call just to start communicating.
Missed calls may be recorded but can be lengthy and hard to navigate for important information.

Our Design:
One-time connection creates persistent connection to users that are connected to the same channel.
Push-to-talk feature allows instant and hassle-free exchange of information between users as if side-by-side.
Companion web application allows easy access of missed messages using speech-to-text conversion.

Ease-of-use, simple UI, and convenient features are just some of the core aspects that make our design innovative. The whole idea of TalkBox was to eliminate barriers to communication as much as possible so that users may simply “talk”! The following 2 points are the innovative highlights of our design:

1. The push-to-talk feature allows real-time communication between users, as if they are side-by-side. This reduces the feeling of being miles apart!
2. Speech-to-text functionality converts voice messages to text which are pushed to the web application. Missed messages have never been easier to check!

Several careful design choices were made so that users will be able to enjoy a seamless and easy communication solution. Some of these include:

• A powerful raspberry pi microprocessor to ensure messages can be sent and received extremely quickly.
• A custom board mounted onto the raspberry pi for improved sound quality and additional user interface features.
• Simplified and clean user interface for the web application to ensure users do not get lost while trying to use it.
• Web application includes user authentication, end-to-end encryption, and email verification for security.

The following questions were a few of the many pillars that guided our design’s validation:

• Can the TalkBox emulate a real-time conversation between users?
  – Voice messages must be sent and received with no perceivable delay.
  – Voice messages must be sent and received with minimal work and preparation.
  – TalkBoxes must be able to run on a power source or wired connection.
• Are users able to hear and understand messages clearly?
  – Amplifiers must boost signals to easily audible levels.
  – Filters must clean signals for noise reduction.
• Are users able to access missed messages?
  – Web app must allow for easy access to missed messages.
  – Speech-to-text function must convert voice messages accurately.
• How can we make the web app secure for the user?
  – Web app must have user authentication.
  – Web app must have end-to-end encryption.

1. Cost-friendly: Individual TalkBoxes cost under $100 which are far below the price-range of similar products that are currently on the market.
2. Lightweight: TalkBoxes are the size of a small book. The web application requires no installation or downloads and has no added cost.
3. Quality: Messages can be heard clearly and in good audio quality. No cheap-sounding audio! The web application is secure, simple, and easy to use.
4. Sustainability: The TalkBox system does not require regular maintenance. Only minimal professional support may be needed for the first-time setup.
5. Practicality: The TalkBoxes and the web application in cohesion provides an extremely convenient service for any work-from-home employee.