BWM Dentsu and Haystac give ALS patients their voice back with Project Revoice
BWM Dentsu and its PR arm, Haystac, have launched Project Revoice with the help of Lyrebird, Finch, Rumble Studios, Space 66 and the ALS Association to give those suffering with motor neurone disease ALS their voice back.
Recently deceased cosmologist, author and theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking suffered from ALS from his early 20s.
The new initiative enables those who have lost the ability to talk due to ALS to sound like themselves again, rather than sounding like a computer.
Previously, those suffering from ALS could use pre-recorded messages to communicate, but by recreating the human voice, ALS patients can now have the sound of their own voice back.
Launching the initiative, the founder of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, Pat Quinn, has been given his voice back.
Brian Frederick, executive vice president of communications at the ALS Association, said in a statement: “This new breakthrough will change the future of personal communication for people who are diagnosed with ALS from here-on.”
Asheen Naidu, ECD at BWM Dentsu, added: “Being able to give Pat his voice back and seeing what that means to him and his family, has been incredibly rewarding. Knowing that this tech is literally going to transform the lives of thousands more, is something we’re all very proud of.”
Pat Quinn, co-founder, ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, said: “ALS takes and takes and takes. This time I will take something back! For those living with ALS to know that they can still speak freely – in their own voice – even after ALS takes it away, will transform the way people live with this disease.”
Credits:
- Creative Agency: BWM Dentsu
- Chief Creative Officer: Rob Belgiovane
- Executive Creative Director: Asheen Naidu
- Senior Creative Team: René Schultz & Oskar Westerdal
- Film Producer: Emma Durlacher
- Design Director: Eeuwout ‘Dutchy’ Baart
- Digital Producer: Jenna Mills
- Director: Brett Ludeman
- Editor: Brendon Killen
- PR Agency: Haystac
- National General Manager Haystac: Jason Carnew
- General Manager Haystac Sydney: Sarah Littlefair
- Technology Partner: Lyrebird
- Production Company: Finch
- Sound & Music: Rumble Studios
- Website: Space 66 & Finch
Abigail Dawson was Mumbrella's senior content journalist covering event content. She left Mumbrella to move into an agency role in 2020.
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