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Hand-to-speech Sign Language Interpreter is worn comfortably around your neck
It looks a bit like the memory eraser used in Men in Black, but the Sign Language Interpreter is nothing to fear. It's a concept by designer Mac Funamizu, and the locket-sized device would, in a perfect world, be able to read hand gestures and then speak the signed words out loud. In case you needed to do the reverse — convert your speech into hand signals — there's already a real world gadget for that.
The Sign Language Interpreter consists of a camera to pick up gestures, and a clever speaker that has its volume controlled by how far you open it up out of the bottom of the unit. Check out the gallery below for more of the Sign Language Interpreter.
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Mac Funamizu, via Tuvie
By jdconrad at 12:19 AM ON 03/25/09
No electronic device can fully translate sign language. ASL isn't simply expressed through the hands. Along with the signs, you have to read the facial expressions and body movement to fully understand what is being said. ASL is a 3-D language, whereas most spoken languages are linear.
By washout at 10:53 AM ON 03/25/09
Why do you have to be a 3D party pooper? I'm sure it's going to help alot. Anyone that doesn't know ASL can now hear the words and (guess what) look at the people to tell their expression. I think this is great!
By Tirtle82 at 9:18 AM ON 03/26/09
Except ASL is also a fully-fledged language with its own unique grammar structure. The order of words in ASL sentences are different than in spoken English. This is an interesting concept for a machine to aid communication between Deaf and hearing people, but it really is only going to work if an individual uses Signed English (not considered a language, as opposed to ASL).
By Roger at 9:56 AM ON 03/31/09
Or you can take a course in ASL
About 40 class sessions and you will be fluent enough for simple conversations. Most Deaf persons will help anyone who puts forth an effort.
By tracii at 10:33 AM ON 03/31/09
Maybe this is the next VP/VRS device...
By pkelly at 3:22 PM ON 03/31/09
The device looks like it reads "fingerspelling" not LANGUAGE Sign language is 60% face and the signs are on the exterior. Fingerspelling is also done to the other person no one fingerspells to themselves. If it is to read just fingerspelling, then its just a glorified way for spelling which would be more time consuming than writing it down, givent that the recognition is not instantaneous.
Its a good effort I applaud it but doubt that it is in any way "fluent"
I am an interpreter of more than 30 years, and eveything I was taught would not fit in that machine. You would miss intonation, inflection, humor, spontaneity,... I would love to see the day that it truely interprets, keep the good ideas coming, but always remember to ask many Deaf People. That has been the flaw of many inventions meant to improve.
By marty at 11:17 AM ON 04/17/09
is it commercially viable? available? cost?
By Ilea at 1:03 PM ON 06/25/09
Which is the cost?
By Poornima at 6:09 AM ON 08/21/09
This is simply great.I was hoping that something like this would happen to help my son.Is it commercially available?I would like to know the details
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Poornima:
This is simply great.I was hoping that something like this would happen to help my son.Is it commercially available...More »