[community] Gloves that Translate ASL to Speech

Wed Jun 1 19:54:32 UTC 2016

I'm speaking as someone who does not use ASL and does not know much more than some basics, but like every technology, I think it's very person-dependent. I agree we can't generalize and say this technology is amazing for the whole deaf community and would be welcomed and appropriate in all contexts. But I also think it's a pretty cool technology that has potential to be useful if someone wanted to have the ability to convert sign to speech. 

I could see that the grammar via facial expressions may differ between the deaf and deaf-blind community though I do not know one way or the other if this is true. But it also could differ significantly within the each group as well. I don't know enough about ASL to understand how grammar is conveyed through the face, but arguably, most individuals convey a significant amount of the message through their facial expressions as well whether they use their voice or an augmentative communication device (though users who speak with their own vocal cords often have some control over intonation, volume, and other voice characteristics).  

As a thought -- perhaps this technology could also be viewed as for the listener, not the signer. Perhaps this type of technology could be purchased by banks, large chain stores, libraries, etc. to act in place of a translator for their staff when clients who use sign language are on site -- if they are comfortable wearing a pair of gloves. (Obvious logistical problems include hand size). It kind of seems like a Babel fish for sign language for anyone who has read Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy. 

Have a good day,
Julia 

Julia Foster, MScOT, OT Reg. (Ont.)
Coordinator, Vision Technology Service & SNOW
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-----Original Message-----
From: community [mailto:community-bounces at lists.idrc.ocadu.ca] On Behalf Of D'Intino, Pina
Sent: June-01-16 3:13 PM
To: Tara Robertson <trobertson at langara.ca>; 'Taliesin Smith' <talilief at gmail.com>; 'Inclusive Design Community' <community at lists.idrc.ocadu.ca>
Subject: Re: [community] Gloves that Translate ASL to Speech

I wonder thought if the same thoughts would apply to someone  who is deaf/blind?

-----Original Message-----
From: community [mailto:community-bounces at lists.idrc.ocadu.ca] On Behalf Of Tara Robertson
Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2016 2:57 PM
To: 'Taliesin Smith'; 'Inclusive Design Community'
Subject: Re: [community] Gloves that Translate ASL to Speach

Here's an article that critiques this technology. In particular, I love this
quote: "Deaf people are viewed as a liability in terms of communication, when in reality, the opposite is true. We are the experts at communication.
>From living in a society that constantly demands observation and improvisation of us, we have learned how to communicate in countless ways." 
http://www.theestablishment.co/2016/05/11/deaf-people-dont-need-new-communic
ation-tools-everyone-else-does/

One of the Queer ASL instructors also pointed out that so much grammar happens in the face, so this technology is both inappropriate and flawed. 

Tara

-----Original Message-----
From: community [mailto:community-bounces at lists.idrc.ocadu.ca] On Behalf Of Taliesin Smith
Sent: June-01-16 11:35 AM
To: Inclusive Design Community
Subject: [community] Gloves that Translate ASL to Speach

Two undergraduate students team up to invent SignAloud. A set of gloves that converts ASL signs to speech.

They have won the Lemelson-MIT Student Prize:

Story at the following link:
http://www.washington.edu/news/2016/04/12/uw-undergraduate-team-wins-10000-l
emelson-mit-student-prize-for-gloves-that-translate-sign-language/

Taliesin
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