About Iris
Iris is a real-time ASL-English translation tool that enables natural conversation between deaf and hearing people. Built by Lonia AI, Iris exists to close a gap that affects half a million Americans every day.
The problem: a 50:1 ratio
There are roughly 500,000 ASL users in the United States and only about 10,000 certified interpreters. That's a 50:1 ratio — meaning most everyday interactions happen without any communication support at all.
Every doctor's appointment, job interview, classroom lecture, and neighborhood conversation is a potential barrier. Existing solutions are expensive, hard to schedule, or simply unavailable when you need them most.
Our mission
Iris exists to make communication accessible, private, and effortless. We believe that a conversation between a deaf person and a hearing person should be as natural as any other — no waiting, no barriers, no compromises on privacy.
Iris runs entirely on your device. Your conversations stay yours. This isn't just a technical decision — it's a commitment to the people we serve.
Built by Lonia AI
Lonia AI builds accessible, compliant, secure software. Everything we make rests on three pillars:
- Accessibility — WCAG 2.2 Level AA compliance isn't a checkbox. It's our starting point.
- Compliance — HIPAA-aware mode, Section 508, GDPR. We build for the standards that matter.
- Security — OAuth-only authentication, on-device processing, zero password storage. Privacy by design.
Deaf community involvement
Iris is built with input from the Deaf community — not just for them. Our avatar signing accuracy, dictionary expansion, and feature priorities are shaped by direct feedback from ASL users. This is a long-term commitment, not a one-time consultation.