[community] Gloves that Translate ASL to Speech

Wed Jun 1 20:48:27 UTC 2016

I totally relate to the obvious frustration oozing from the article; society, in general, is not yet at the point of embracing "dis"ability in whichever form it may manifest. It is rather acceptance... but this is a positive starting point. A lot more has to be done.
Communication is a social activity. It requires at least two individuals. Living with someone who has communication challenges I would, and I am sure they would too, do anything to understand and make themselves understood. To us, digital has been so far the most promising environment. I am disappointed to see how many therapists (all I worked so far with) refuse to adopt digital technologies, and they just deserve to be told to "just chuck their bloody flash cards, RPM, and other "intervention" techniques with tongue-twisting names. It's no intervention at all. It's just irritation!!! (And cash grab too)
Cheers to all,Dorin

> From: jfoster at ocadu.ca
> To: community at lists.idrc.ocadu.ca
> Date: Wed, 1 Jun 2016 19:54:32 +0000
> Subject: Re: [community] Gloves that Translate ASL to Speech
> 
> 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
> Inclusive Design Research Centre 
> 205 Richmond ST. W., 2nd Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 1V3
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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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