Presenting VINCE application

Safer and smarter way to support integration

VINCE mobile application is designed to support migrants during their integration journey by providing reliable information, language assistance, and safe digital spaces for guidance and connection. It complements face-to-face services with easy-to-use digital tools that work wherever the user is.

VINCE was developed in close collaboration with the end user, with migrants to migrants.

Key features at a glance

K – Reliable answers you can check

Users can ask questions in their language—by typing or speaking—and receive clear answers tailored to integration related topics.

What makes Ask AI different

• Trained with curated and controlled information sources
• Each answer includes references, so users can verify where the information comes from
• If the system is unsure, it asks clarifying questions instead of guessing
• Designed to avoid overwhelming users with unnecessary detail.

The goal is simple: help users get correct, understandable information they can trust.

Language Services – Understand and be understood

VINCE includes built‑in language tools that support everyday communication:

• Speech-to-text: speak instead of typing
• Translation: translate text between languages
• Text-to-speech: hear translations read aloud

Benefits

• Supports accessibility and low literacy situations
• Helps in real-world interactions, not just inside the app
• Handles different accents and natural speech

The app currently provides UI localization in English, Finnish, Swedish, and Ukrainian.

Virtual Rooms – Meet, learn, and connect

VINCE offers shared virtual spaces where users can:

• Attend information or counselling sessions
• Participate in language and culture orientation
• Join events, classes, or informal hangouts
• Meet others regardless of physical location

Inside virtual rooms, users can:

• Move around freely and look around naturally
• Talk via real-time voice or text chat
• View presentations on shared virtual screens
• Use personalized avatars to represent themselves

All rooms are designed to be safe, moderated, and inclusive.

Inclusive avatars – Be yourself

Users can create avatars that reflect their identity:

• Over 3 million unique combinations
• Strong focus on diversity and cultural inclusivity
• Easy one click random creation or full manual customization

Avatars are not about gaming—they help users feel comfortable and represented in shared spaces.

Privacy, security, and trust

VINCE is designed with privacy by default:

• No personal profiling
• No storage of AI conversations
• No unnecessary data collection
• Only minimal preferences stored on the device

Anonymous access improves privacy while still protecting services from misuse. All connections are encrypted, and sensitive data is never cached on the phone.

How VINCE works

Behind the scenes, VINCE connects securely to several services

• An information and AI service for answers and language support
• A virtual environment service for shared spaces
• Secure authorization that runs silently in the background

Benefits for the user

• Fast responses
• No need to create complex accounts
• Smooth interaction between mobile, desktop, and virtual users

Next steps

Initially, the app will be available for test use by customers of partner organizations through the Google Play store. Next VINCE development is moving toward broader testing and pilot use, such as

• Final feature polishing and validation
• TestFlight and internal app store testing
• Establishing long-term maintenance and support plans

Important to notice, that the project has already generated more ideas than current project resources allow—but this launch is an important milestone toward a full production ready service.

Contact

For more information, please contact project manager Riina Riihimäki, Turku University of Applied Sciences, riina.riihimaki@turkuamk.fi, phone +358 50 475 4726.

Partners in VINCE project:

Turku University of Applied Sciences, Finland
City of Turku, Finland
Sateenkaari Koto ry, Finland
Refugee Health Center, Sweden
County Administrative Board of Östergötland, Sweden

The virtual spaces in the application are using metaverse technology developed by the FIT research group at Turku UAS and commercialized by ProVerse Interactive.

Please note, that at first the app will be available for test use by customers of partner organizations through the Google Play store.