Innovation of the week: An automatic American Sign Language translator
From The Idea Factory, our special report on innovation
Digital technologies already have revolutionized how the deaf communicate, but face-to-face conversations with hearing people who don't know American Sign Language can still be challenging, said Adele Peters at Fast Company. Uni, an "automatic translator" gadget that attaches to a basic Windows tablet, helps deaf users converse without having "to hire an expensive interpreter or resort to writing or typing notes."
(Colin Pattison Photography & Cinematography)
The device uses two cameras to watch someone sign, then translates those gestures into English, "speaking in a Siri-like voice." When the hearing person responds, Uni's speech recognition software automatically types the words on the tablet for the deaf user to read. Uni's creators, who are deaf themselves, hope the device will open up new career opportunities for the deaf and hearing impaired.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - March 16, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - pointed commentary, Haiti in trouble, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 hilarious cartoons about the RNC's MAGA takeover
Cartoons Artists take on RNC funding, Lara Trump, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Trump's presidential run: a bad bet for Republicans?
Talking Point The GOP is taking a 'big gamble' on former president's 2024 White House bid
By The Week UK Published