New Smart Glove Translates Sign Language Into Text and Speech
A new smart glove aims to bridge the gap between those with hearing disabilities and those without, by translating sign language gestures into visual letters or speech.
The SignLanguageGlove is the work of Saudi designer and media artist Hadeel Ayoub who recently completed an MA in Computational Arts at Goldsmiths, University of London.
The glove has five flex sensors that detect how the wearer bends their fingers when they sign, while an accelerometer keeps track of the movement of the hand. A computer programme then translates the data into text, while a text-to-speech chip transforms it into spoken words.
Most of the hardware is sewn into the glove’s lining, making it as comfortable to wear as possible.
After completing three different prototypes, Ayoub is now working on a fourth version that will incorporate a smartphone and tablet app that can receive the glove’s output over Wi-Fi.
“Once I’ve incorporated Wi-Fi and translation features into it the glove will be useful for all – no exclusions as to who the user can reach, wherever, whoever, from any country at any time,” says Ayoub.
She is also now working on an app to translate the text into other languages in real time.
Several companies are reportedly interested in turning the prototype into product that can be bought by schools and companies for their employees, students and patients to wear.
Ayoub explained: “I had one mission when I started this project and it was to facilitate communication between all kinds of disabilities, eliminating barriers between people who have a visual, hearing or speech impairment. The prototypes each have a new additional feature, an LED light, and a speaker for example, that took me one step closer to my goal.
Image credit: Hadeel Ayoub
