Creating History: Azish Qureshi of Guelph University Unveils ‘Signiq’

Azish Qureshi, a third-year computer science student at the University of Guelph, is making headlines with the launch of his new website, ‘Signiq,’ which focuses on American Sign Language (ASL).

Who is Azish? Calling him just another tech-savvy 19-year-old university student would not do him justice. Long before he created Signiq, Azish was already busy conceptualizing and designing a range of tech solutions tailored for niche consumer groups in Canada.

Azish’s Credentials: He is more than a gifted college student; he is also the founder of Asteritech, a tech media company that has attracted millions of views and thousands of supporters worldwide. His experience as a software engineer and spokesperson for Dribbl, a networking platform for soccer players and coaches, showcases his ability to create user-friendly tech solutions that surpass those developed by older, more experienced peers. 

Azish attributes his success to his unwavering spirit of discovery, a trait he highlights on his LinkedIn profile, stating: “I am driven by curiosity and a love for building things that once seemed impossible. I believe the best kind of tech still feels a little like magic, even after you understand it.”

The ‘Signiq’ Story: Signiq is a website that helps users learn and practice the basics of American Sign Language (ASL) by using a computer’s camera to track hand movements and provide instant feedback on gesture accuracy.

Azish’s inspiration for Signiq came from spending time with a friend who uses ASL to communicate with his hard-of-hearing parents. He was intrigued by this form of non-verbal communication but found that existing online resources lacked a crucial feature: personal feedback on the learner’s signing accuracy.

“The platforms were outdated and lacked interactivity,” he noted. “I realized I could leverage my computer science expertise to fill that gap.”

The Result: Azish designed Signiq to offer a comprehensive learning experience through three distinct modes: 

1. Alphabet Mode: Users learn how to sign each letter.
2. Word Mode: Users can practice spelling words.
3. Reading Mode: Users practice recognizing fingerspelled letters.

Users can also choose between challenge and practice mode. The website features photo and video references, and users can select to use either their right or left hand.

The Signiq Process: After logging in, the website analyzes points on users’ fingers and compares their hand positions to the correct shapes for each letter or word. A percentage counter shows how closely their hand matches the correct position, letting them move on to the next letter or word once they reach 100 percent accuracy.

“You’re constantly shown a stream of letters, and you have to transcribe what’s being shown. The difficulty increases as the pace quickens and the words become longer,” Azish explains.

He hopes Signiq will make ASL more accessible to those interested in learning it, eliminating the need to schedule appointments with instructors and enabling users to progress at their own pace.

His efforts have garnered recognition. In a statement to a local news portal, Canadian Hearing Services remarked that platforms like Signiq “can play an important role in fostering greater accessibility, inclusion, and communication within our communities.”

“We applaud the student for his initiative and passion in creating innovative ways to encourage people to practice and support their American Sign Language learning,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, Azish is already looking ahead, planning to develop Signiq into a mobile app.

We wish Azish the best of luck in his future endeavors. May Allah SWT guide him to greater success. Aameen.

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