Is there software that converts to sign language?

I was talking to someone earlier today about making bespoken as accessible as possible. The issue of sign language came up. I know there are programmes that exist to translate speech to text and text into different languages but would it be possible to create software that converted text into sign language with a virtual person signing?

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Permalink Reply by Infidellic on August 2, 2011 at 10:47

http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/13/ibms-sisi-virtually-translates-s...

^ An intern project

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Permalink Reply by Helen Bowyer on August 2, 2011 at 10:55

Hi,

Yes indeed it is! I mentored a group of students as part of the IBM Extreme Blue Project, in partnership with the RNID and UEA, to produce a proof of concept for this. The students did an amazing job in just 12 weeks - the video is here - http://youtu.be/RarMKnjqzZU

While the proof of concept shows the potential of the work in this area - it also highlighted a number of areas for further development. Not least on this list is an improved translation engine. Converting from spoken English grammar and syntax to BSL is not a trivial exercise. The proof of concept works very well for simple sentences but significant investment is needed to process complex sentences. The other element is an expanded dictionary of signs.

The other point to note is that while we are very proud of what has been produced (and continues to be developed) this solution does not address the problem of 2 way communication. - opinions noted here are my own - official press release from IBM can be found here - http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/22316.wss