Emma Hartnell-Baker
MySpeekie® uses Thought to Voice technology so non-speaking children can communicate any word they want, whether or not they can read or spell.
Project
The Reading Hut Ltd
URL
Year founded
2021
Business stage
Seed
High-growth sectors
Digital and Technologies
Sector
Digital
Location
South West
Funding
Highly Commended Applicant
The problem and opportunity
Non-speaking children are often limited to huge symbol libraries or technologies that require reading and spelling. Leading Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) developers have avoided phonetic keyboards because English’s complex orthography makes mapping between speech sounds and correctly spelled words highly complex. This leaves communication and literacy as separate challenges, creating a significant commercial opportunity across communication, literacy and language learning.
The solution and innovation
MySpeekie® is believed to be the world’s first AAC to solve English’s opaque orthography using a phonetic keyboard. It is powered by Ortho-GraphiX®, a novel bidirectional word-mapping algorithm, with patent protection being sought to enable future licensing across a range of applications. MySpeekie® is commercially available, developed with funding from Innovate UK’s Unlocking Potential Award, in use within EHCP provision and with pilots planned.
Market and ambition
MySpeekie® is being assessed by Safer Technologies 4 Schools (Australia) and will be piloted in nurseries, schools and by SALTs in England. As the world’s first phonetic keyboard using Phonemies®, Phonetic Symbols for Kids, it has international growth potential, targeting the global AAC, literacy and language learning markets.
Founder perspective
Emma Hartnell-Baker is a late-diagnosed AuDHD (Autism and ADHD), former Ofsted Inspector, MEd SEN specialist and doctoral researcher at the University of Reading. Combining lived experience with professional expertise, she developed Ortho-GraphiX®, a novel bidirectional word-mapping algorithm with wide-reaching potential.
Women in Innovation Award
Highly commended applicant of the Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award 2025/26, receiving tailored business support and access to specialist training and networks. View all winners and highly commended applicants from the Women in Innovation cohort 2025/2026.