Voicitt AI software helps 11-year-old Brisbane girl Amy Messer write for the first time

Eleven-year-old Amy Messer’s literary journey has been anything but easy. But thanks to a revolutionary piece of AI software her writing skills are going from strength to strength.

At just 11 years old, Amy Messer is writing her first chapter of her book.

But the literary journey for this amazing Brisbane school has been all but easy.

Amy, who has Down syndrome, learned her first reading words using sign language.

Now, thanks to a revolutionary AI voice translator program called Voiceitt, her writing skills are going from strength to strength.

“It (the program) has really opened so many avenues for Amy, its increased her independence and really reduced her frustration when it comes to writing,” her mother, Megan Messer, said.

“It’s one of those things for people with atypical speech patterns or disabilities that is life changing.”

Voiceitt works by “translating” broken speech to both audio and text.

Ms Messer said Amy, who has already undergone “intensive speech therapy” uses the “dictate” mode on Voiceitt where she speaks and the program then creates full sentences using her own words.

When it came to writing, previously Amy would experience muscle fatigue and struggled with spelling, grammar and sentence formation.

Ms Meser said Amy would also get “frustrated” by previous programs that only had about 75 per cent accuracy.

“This one though has about 95 per cent accuracy its incredible,” she said.

Megan Messer and her 11-year-old daughter Amy using the Voicitt program. Picture: Adam Head

Ms Messer said Voiceitt made Amy more enthusiastic about learning as a whole.

“It just gives her greater independence and anyone thinking of using it should definitely give it a go,” she said.

“The potential for AI out there and what it can do for people with disabilities needs to be more recognised because it makes their lives so much more integrated in our community.”

Superyou Therapy senior speech pathologist Tanith Brien said Voiceitt was suitable for people with a range of speech issues, including those with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.

“This is really leading the way in terms of speech technology that allows a wider range of people to be able use it,” she said.

Ms Brien said the program was used for a wide variety of things from writing out text messages to translating speech into something unfamiliar people can understand.

“Everyone’s goals are different,” she said.

Ms Brien said it was fantastic to see AI being used in such a positive way through the program.

“Although some of those little things like sending a text message might be something we take for granted, it can really make a really huge impact for someone who struggles with that on a day-to-day basis,” she said.

Originally published as Voicitt AI software helps 11-year-old Brisbane girl Amy Messer write for the first time