This Sign Speaks

Like the name suggests, the Smart Sign Language Interpreter is a convenient device that allows hearing-impaired people to communicate with those who are can hear, using sign language. Apparently, Sign Language is the first language learned by hearing-impaired people and as a wristband device it makes use of an EMG sensor, a gyro sensor, and a distance sensor to decode hand signs. How awesome!

  • Small distance sensors are applied to the tips of the user’s fingernails.
  • When a hearing-impaired person uses signs to communicate to a non-hearing-impaired person (who can not use sign language), the signs are tracked, converted into voice or text data, and sent to the recipient’s smartphone.
  • The device also contains speakers that can transmit the voice data directly.
  • When a non-hearing-impaired person speaks to a hearing-impaired person, their voice is converted into text by the device, and displayed on its built-in screen.
  • The text can be converted into signing diagrams.

Designers: Jeon Sung-Su, Ku Ja-Yun & Lee Seo-Young