[community] Gloves that Translate ASL to Speech

Wed Jun 1 23:24:38 UTC 2016

Very interesting conversation

I have deaf cousins with whom I desperately want to communicate, but as a low-vision person, I resort mainly to email and text. My efforts at ASL/BSL are sort of pointless because I can't follow others' responses. So a sign->speech interpreter would be ideal, either the glove or Kinect.

Which tech is 'better' or more 'necessary'? That seems a bit like asking do you prefer frogs, or turtles?

John D. Willis | MDes CMRP
Inclusive design, strategy & research

t: +1 416.319.0052
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> On Jun 1, 2016, at 17:09, 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
>>> 
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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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