Appy in any language: Teynham great-grandad Bryan Speller's smartphone idea to solve holiday problems
Teynham pensioner Bryan
Speller with his smartphone app
by Hayley Robinson
Most great-grandads would not have a clue what a smartphone is,
let alone what an app does.
But then not all of them are like Bryan Speller.
The 75-year-old has developed an app called Look No Words, which
people can download to their mobile phones to use while they are
abroad.
Instead of struggling to communicate with the locals, you simply
access a library of photos of the most frequently asked for things
which you then show to the person who does not speak your
language.
You can even add your own photos, such as your favourite meal or
your hotel in case you need to ask for directions.
Best of all, no internet connection is required meaning it can
be used any time, any place, anywhere and there are no additional
roaming charges on your bill while overseas.
"I wanted a fry-up but as they didn't speak English I was having difficulty explaining what I wanted..." – Bryan Speller
Mr Speller, of Frognal Close, Teynham, came up with the idea
following a holiday in Greece with his wife Sheila, 74.
The former salesman said: "I wanted a fry-up but as they didn't
speak English I was having difficulty explaining what I wanted.
"I said to my wife 'if only I had a picture to show them'.
"This was about 30 years ago but I was telling some of the
grandchildren about it earlier this year and saying I was going to
produce a book.
"It was only when I got a smart phone that I thought I could do
it on there instead as people carry their phones on them all the
time."
He found a company in Bath, which agreed to create the app for
£6,000.
Mr Speller said: "We used our holiday money to pay for it and it
finally went live in September.
"Only 50 people have downloaded it so far but I'm hoping more
will once they know about it. I'd love to be a millionaire off the
back of it."
Look No Words can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or
Android's Google Play store for 69p.
19/12/12
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