Gargi Agrawalla's SIVO.GO AI Alarm Wins 2026 UK James Dyson Award
Gargi Agrawalla, a design graduate from Loughborough University, has been awarded the 2026 UK James Dyson Award for her creation, SIVO.GO. This innovative AI-driven alarm is designed specifically for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, utilizing vibrations and flashing lights to notify users of important sounds. The AI system, which operates locally and maintains privacy without the need for internet, has been trained on more than 500 sound samples. Additionally, an optional vibration sensor can identify knocking or unauthorized entry. Having been born profoundly deaf and receiving a cochlear implant at age 12, Agrawalla seeks to replace cumbersome single-sound alarms with a more compact solution. As the UK winner, she is awarded £5,000 for further development and will vie for the international accolade, known for honoring groundbreaking designs.
Key facts
- Gargi Agrawalla won the 2026 UK James Dyson Award for SIVO.GO, an AI-powered alarm for deaf and hard-of-hearing users.
- SIVO.GO uses an AI model trained on more than 500 sound samples to recognize noises like knocks, doorbells, and fire alarms.
- The AI runs locally on the device, not via Wi-Fi or cloud, to preserve privacy and ensure reliability without internet.
- An optional vibration sensor, mountable behind a door, detects knocking or forced entry to reduce false positives.
- Agrawalla, a Loughborough University graduate, was born profoundly deaf and received a cochlear implant at age 12.
- Existing alarms for the hard-of-hearing are often bulky, expensive, and limited to single sounds, requiring multiple gadgets.
- The UK award includes a £5,000 prize to support product development, trials, certification, and pilot manufacture.
- Agrawalla will also contend for the international James Dyson Award, previously won by a Parkinson's keyboard and an anti-hair loss helmet.
Entities
Artists
- Gargi Agrawalla
Institutions
- James Dyson Award
- Loughborough University
- Dezeen
Locations
- United Kingdom
Sources
- Dezeen —