Communications of the ACM
Uh Students Develop Prototype Device that Translates Sign Language
MyVoice consists of a microphone, speakers, a soundboard, a video camera, and a monitor.
Credit: University of Houston
University of Houston researchers have developed the concept and prototype for MyVoice, a device that reads sign language and translates its motions into audible words.
MyVoice consists of a microphone, speakers, a soundboard, a video camera, and a monitor. Once MyVoice processes the sign language motions, it translates that data into an electronic voice. It also can capture a speaker's voice and translate the words into sign language motions, which are displayed on the monitor.
"The biggest difficulty was sampling together a database of images of the sign language," says Houston student Jeffrey Seto. "It involved 200 to 300 images per sign."
MyVoice evolved into a prototype capable of translating a single phrase: "A good job, Cougars."
MyVoice recently won first place at the American Society of Engineering Education-Gulf Southwest Annual Conference.
"We got it to work, but we hope to work with someone to implement this as a product," says MyVoice co-developer Sergio Aleman. "We want to prove to the community that this will work for the hearing impaired."
From University of Houston News
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