Samsung's new Impulse app uses AI to help people with speech disorders

Samsung says around 70 million people suffer from a speech disorder characterized by stuttering, repetitions, or prolongations of sounds, words, or syllables.

According to the company, these speech pathologies have historically been treated independently through what is called “rhythm therapy.” This type of therapy creates a subconscious compass in the brain to improve linguistic fluency.

Now, this is where Samsung's new mobile app comes into play. Impulse, as it is called, is a mobile app developed by Samsung Electronics Iberia and Cheil — a marketing company under Samsung Group. The app uses an algorithm based on Natural Language Processing to analyze words and convert them into rhythmic vibrations delivered to the user's wrist through Galaxy smartwatches.

Personalized assistance and exercises

Samsung says the Impulse app is compatible with Android phones and Galaxy Watch 6-series watches. When Impulse runs on a Galaxy Watch, it tells users the tempo of each word or phoneme “according to the particularities of the patient's disorder.”

This type of “rhythm therapy” through the smartwatch's haptic feedback allows users to identify their own speech rhythm and avoid blocks in diction.

Samsung says more functionalities will be added to the Impulse app progressively, and the app will also offer more than 250 rhythm and tone exercises that will increase in difficulty as users progress in speech control.

The app will offer three exercise levels for each of the four exercise modes, i.e., Boost your voice, Boost your rhythm, Boost your tone, and Boost your speech.

As of now, the Impulse app is available through the Google Play Store in Spain, but Samsung hasn't mentioned anything specific about a global release.