Case Study: Equadex achieves real-time, AI-powered communication for nonverbal children with Microsoft Azure

Developer provides communication tool for nonverbal children on the Autism Spectrum through mobile app enhanced with artificial intelligence

Equadex, a Toulouse-based developer with staff personally familiar with Autism Spectrum Disorder, created Helpicto to help nonverbal children communicate. Families had relied on bulky pictogram binders, so Equadex needed a portable, multi-platform app that could translate natural spoken language into understandable images without building complex AI from scratch.

Equadex used Microsoft Azure and Cognitive Services—Bing Speech, LUIS, Computer Vision and Translator—along with Azure Functions, Azure SQL and Xamarin to quickly deliver a speech-to-pictogram app; a focused hackfest added photo personalization and multilingual support. The result is a scalable, continually improving tool that helps children like Arthur understand requests, increases autonomy and readies Equadex to expand Helpicto beyond France.

Equadex

Anthony Allebée

Chief Technology Officer