Egypt launches coronavirus automated testing service for the hearing-impaired

Egypt has launched an automated testing service to detect coronavirus symptoms for hearing impaired, using the Chabot technique and artificial intelligence features.

The new testing service will be available for hearing impaired individuals using sign language through Wassel, an online application, and Tamkeen website, the Egyptian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology said in a statement on Wednesday.

The service was launched during a meeting between Egyptian Minister of Communications Amr Talaat, Ahmed Fayed, Regional Director of the U.S. multinational technology company Avaya; and Randa Aboul-Hosn, Resident Representative at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Egypt.

Talaat said the service is the first of its kind to be available in the Arab region and Africa, according to a UNDP statement.

Aboul-Hosn stressed the importance of using technology to curtail the negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, particularly on people with special needs.