[community] Gloves that Translate ASL to Speech

Wed Jun 1 21:51:56 UTC 2016

Thanks for adding that technology Gio. Regarding the point on the gloves not being necessary because of it, I feel that the invention of one technology that addresses a communication barrier or other access need doesn't mean that another technology that does a similar function isn't merited. For example, maybe someone doesn't want to be captured on camera for modesty or camera-shy or technology distrust reasons. I might be grasping at straws with that one, but there are always contexts that merit alternatives. 

Plus, competition hopefully pushes innovation / quality forward. Perhaps the video capture paired with gloves could be even more accurate as the gloves might catch subtle movements related to depth (i.e. forward and away from a user) that aren't captured by video. And perhaps re: Taliesan's and Tara's comments about facial expressions, adding a function that captures feeling / grammar from facial expressions could further add to the accuracy of the message being communicated. Arguably something that interprets facial expressions would be useful for many individuals for various reasons.  Like me, if I'm tired and am not picking up on as many social cues. Or someone who can't see facial details for one reason or another. Or someone talking by phone or skype with a lousy video connection. Etc. 

Have a good night,
Julia

-----Original Message-----
From: community [mailto:community-bounces at lists.idrc.ocadu.ca] On Behalf Of Taliesin Love Smith
Sent: June-01-16 5:46 PM
To: Mitchell, Jess <jmitchell at ocadu.ca>
Cc: Inclusive Design Community <community at lists.idrc.ocadu.ca>
Subject: Re: [community] Gloves that Translate ASL to Speech

Yes, I agree, great points that all bring to mind the three principles of Inclusive Design!

1. Recognize diversity and uniqueness
2. Inclusive tools and process
3. Broader beneficial impact

Lovin' the list.
Taliesin

On Wed, Jun 1, 2016 at 6:39 PM, Mitchell, Jess <jmitchell at ocadu.ca> wrote:

> This is incredible. Thanks for sharing these links.
> And a great convo about the original link!
>
> Jess
>
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Jess Mitchell
> GMT - 4:00
> +1.416.977.6000 x.3965
> Senior Manager, R&D + Design
> OCAD University, Toronto
> Inclusive Design Research Centre
> jmitchell at ocadu.ca
> skype: jesshmitchell
> http://idrc.ocad.ca/
> http://inclusivedesign.ca/
> http://fluidproject.org
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> > On Jun 1, 2016, at 4:18 PM, Tirloni, Giovanni <gtirloni at ocadu.ca> wrote:
> >
> > The gloves don't seem necessary with the advances in image 
> > processing
> and deep learning.
> >
> > For example, this prototype from Microsoft Research uses the Kinect 
> > to
> capture/understand the images and translate between different sign
> languages:
> >
> >
> http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/collaboration/stories/kinect-sign-
> language-translator.aspx
> >
> > Video: 
> > http://research.microsoft.com/apps/video/default.aspx?id=204170
> >
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: community [mailto:community-bounces at lists.idrc.ocadu.ca] On
> Behalf Of
> >> Foster, Julia
> >> Sent: Wednesday, June 1, 2016 4:55 PM
> >> To: 'Inclusive Design Community' <community at lists.idrc.ocadu.ca>
> >> 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
> >>
> >> Telephone: 416 977 6000 x3966
> >> Fax: 416 977 9844
> >> Email: jfoster at ocadu.ca
> >>
> >> Vision Technology Service
> >> Employment Accommodation Service
> >> SNOW - Education, Access and You!
> >> Follow SNOW on Twitter & Facebook!
> >>
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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-co
> mmunic
> >> 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-win
> >> s-
> >> 10000-l
> >> emelson-mit-student-prize-for-gloves-that-translate-sign-language/
> >>
> >> Taliesin
> >> ________________________________________
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