#IMakeApps: Using robotics to help people who are hard of hearing
Editor’s note: To celebrate the hard work, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of app makers around the world, we’re featuring founders, product managers, designers and developers from around the world. We’ll showcase their passions and also hear about what they do when they step away from their computers. Meet our next app maker, Mateo Salvatto, an Argentinian robotics champion and founder of ¡Háblalo!, an app that helps people with hearing difficulties to communicate verbally and handle daily life with greater ease. Check out more #IMakeApps stories on g.co/play/imakeapps.
How did you get into robotics?
When I was 15, I first started my specialization in Electronics at ORT Argentina. I started attending the Robotics club meetings and fell in love with it. I knew I wanted to become a member of the club as soon as I saw it, so I started learning from the older students and built my first robot. My favorite part of building robots is when they make their first turn. There is no other feeling like building something for six months and watching it move as you told it to!
When and why did you decide to start teaching robotics to others?
Everything I have achieved was because of Yoda, my first robot. I’m certain it’s very important to learn robotics because of everything it teaches you. It’s not only coding and electronics but also a way of thinking through problems and understanding of the importance of working with others.
Why did you create ¡Háblalo!?
My mother is a teacher for deaf people. When I finished high school I realized I could use what I had learnt to develop something for them. The passion I put into robotics helped me develop ¡Háblalo!. When I won the international robotics championship at 17, I realized I could use everything I had learned to make great things and that’s when I decided to develop something to help people with disabilities. That’s how ¡Háblalo! was born.
What has been your experience with Android & Google Play?
¡Háblalo! wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the Android community and the ease and speed to publish and update your developments in the Play Store. I learned to code apps thanks to the forums of the community and our presence in the Play Store has gotten us to where we are! The possibility of publishing our own product out there for everyone is huge. I love working with apps for Android because of that. I originally published ¡Háblalo! for my friends to use but then people in India, US, Morocco and more started using it. That is the great power and reach of the Android community.
