About This Project
The way you talk with people you know is nothing like the way you talk to a machine. Voice technology still mishears the people it should serve: regional accents, older voices, the interruptions and shorthand that only come out when friends are in the same room. This project is accessibility research, and closing that gap takes a real conversation between people who actually know each other.
Get three people you already talk to, put one iPhone on the table, and record an ordinary conversation in English. No scripts. No studio. No performance. Just the way you already talk.
Recordings must be submitted by 24 September.
What You’ll Do
Record one natural conversation in English for at least 2 minutes per session, in a group of three or four people including you. One iPhone between the group is all the equipment you need.
Pick from topics like:
- Talk about a news event you’ve been following
- Riff on a topic you love, as if recording a podcast
- Tell stories using fictitious names and places
The goal is authentic, everyday speech, the kind of conversation you would have at a coffee shop or on a voice note to a friend.
Why This Work Matters
English sounds different in Dublin, Delhi, Auckland, and Sydney. Voice technology should understand all of it, not just one accent or one speaking style. Your recordings support accessibility research: building technology that understands every voice. They are not used to clone anyone’s voice or to build a chatbot, and they are never sold or shared outside the research.
How It Works
- Apply: select your country and confirm eligibility
- Set up your group: you enter your group’s details yourself. The people joining you do not sign up, create an account, or fill anything in
- Get your guidelines: receive simple recording instructions
- Record: use one iPhone to capture at least 2 minutes of natural conversation
- Submit: upload your audio for review by 24 September
- Get paid: the payment for the session is made to you, and you pass on each share
Who This Is For
You’re eligible if you:
- Are a native English speaker
- Live in one of the 7 eligible countries
- Have an iPhone, one between the group is enough
- Are comfortable speaking naturally on everyday topics
No prior experience required. No app download needed.
