Just launched voice-activated reading app Yap Books is targeting international success this month after being nominated for a global education technology award.
Yap Books, developed by Birmingham-based Yap Technology, has been shortlisted in the Innovation Product Awards – Digital/Coding/Software category at the GESS (Global Education Supplies & Solutions) Awards and is up against nine international competitors.
App developer and Yap Technology founder Ben Ridgway, from Lichfield, will attend a glitzy international Gala dinner ceremony in Dubai on February 27, where the winner will be revealed.
The award nomination continues a remarkable start to the year for Yap Books, which officially launched at the education technology focused Bett Show in London last month.
Designed for children aged three to eight, the App features Yap Classroom, a multi-sensory learning platform where the reader’s voice brings stories to life by triggering a variety of stimulating actions including animations, sounds, videos, images and digital 
content which is a completely synchronised to the story.
Ridgeway said: “To just launch and be recognised with a nomination in the GESS Awards is an incredible way to start the year.
“I initially developed the App to help my son with speech development and it has grown from there. It is now a piece of incredible software technology to bring stories to life that can be used in the classroom or at home.
“My aim was to make reading more fun for kids and now I have a potential award-winning app, however, I am aware that I am up against some very strong competition.”
The App has also been developed for use by children that have individual learning needs including dyslexia, dyspraxia and speech development.
It has a built-in Yap Library which is filled with books, learning materials and digital content all of which is available to download, or youngsters can use Yap Creator to make up their own stories.
This year it aims to grow its content and is working with a number of children’s authors to increase the range and volume of stories.
Ridgeway added: “We’re excited to explore the ways in which this creative use of voice technology can be developed further and are looking forward to working with creators and authors to deliver this exciting way of reading to a wider audience.”
The app is available to download from iTunes.
