“Hannah Parker,” Dane calls out my name, as he appraises me with concern. The order of presentations were random, ironically I was last, which is usually the worst because most people are ‘over it’ by this time.
My eyes shift nervously over to Ethan before I stand and straighten out my dress. I grab my laptop that’s already set up and ready to go.
“Do you need the white board or projector?” he asks as I walk up to the front.
I point at the projector and set my laptop down plugging it in.
The word Amplify pops up on the backdrop and I step back in front of my screen, moving myself in the middle of the webcam.
When I’m finally centered, I glance over at Ethan, worried that I should have told him more about my presentation to prepare him for what he will hear right now. I turn back and give Dane a quick nod, telling him I’m ready and he hits the digital timer displayed on this desk.
I tap my keyboard, initiating the program, then step back in the center of the screen, exactly where I need to be so it can read my words and I begin to sign.
“Good Morning, my name is Hannah Parker and this is Amplify. Amplify is an AI code that’s able to read ASL visually through this webcam and is programmed to speak on my behalf.
“I lost the ability to speak four years ago due to a car accident. Communicating the way I used to is no longer an option. For anyone that is unable to speak, they are limited in life, but the restrictions in the corporate world are massively debilitating. Amplify changes that.”
I take my eyes away from the webcam to peer over at Dane, his brows are pinched together, his eyes bouncing between the screen and his panel. He’s never been good at hiding his emotion but this one is a mix of things I can’t read.
“Amplify is both a standalone program—so if you are nonverbal you can still present to one, two, or hundreds of people, and it’s also built to integrate into systems for video calls so that instead of typing in a chat box you can use Amplify to speak, just as others are speaking.”
I pause again, turning my gaze to Ethan. He’s leaning on to his desk, his palms cover his nose and mouth, and his eyes are glossed over.
“It’s programmed with forty different voices so each user can select the voice that best fits them. But even better, Amplify is built to not only speak but listen. For users like myself that may have just recently lost their speaking voice, you have the option of using your own just by uploading recordings or videos with sound bites of your voice into the program. Amplify will recreate that voice and utilize it as your own.”
“Wait a minute. That’syourvoice?” Dane asks, standing abruptly. “You created this?” He circles his pointer finger at my laptop.
“I did.” I sign proudly.
49
ETHAN
Iwas fully expecting a couple things today. For Dane and his colleagues to see how incredible and smart Hannah is. For them to fall in love with her program and to feel an unrelenting pride that she’s been able to accomplish something so remarkable.
I was prepared for people to see how beneficial this will be for anyone who is nonverbal, because they will be able to use this personally, not just in the corporate world. For this to change everything for her, for them.
What I was not prepared for was to hear her angelic voice again. The tone is impeccable. It’s exactly as I remember it. Soft and warm with a cheerful confidence only she ever mastered.
My eyes pool with tears. I look up and blink them away because that’s fucking embarrassing but as I look over at Dane he’s already appraising me, knowing I’m on the verge of completely losing it.
He’s always been easy to read but as he’s grown into his role as our professor he’s been better about masking his feelings and not wearing his heart so blatantly on his sleeve. Right nowthough, it’s taking everything he has to hold himself back from running over to me.
“This is solely yours?” Baker VanBuren stands, asking Hannah. She nods again and he and Christian share a look that only two businessmen know.
The same way people looked at Dane’s code when he created it.
“Great job, everyone! You guys did a stellar job and it was truly an honor being your professor this semester.” He’ll be teaching a new group of students next semester and it’s bittersweet for us. I love seeing him as my professor but the fact that he won’t be ours directly is best considering how our relationship has grown.
“The panel will consult to grade your final presentations and post the results tomorrow. Have a great winter break!” Dane adds ending class quickly, which didn’t look all that suspicious considering we already went over time.
Hannah begins to unplug her laptop when Baker VanBuren walks up to her. Dane and Christian are on his heels as he holds out his hand, introducing himself, “It’s great to meet you Hannah. Do you know who I am?”
Her eyes flicker to Dane, then me and back to him as she nods with a confident smile.
“I’m incredibly interested to know more about your program.”
50
