VOICE TO TEXTVOICE TO SIGN

Composed by: Santrice Jones

VOICE TO SIGN

When an interpreter is not available there are

other forms of communication that can be used with

those who are deaf or hard of hearing. If the deaf/

hard of hearing person utilizes sign language one

could speak and the information can then be

interpreted and signed by a computer or phone so

the deaf or hard of hearing person can understand.

PROS AND CONS

Pros Cons

• Hearing impaired can receive information being presented through sign language.

• Sometimes recognition is not exact and there are errors with the interpreted sign language.

VOICE TO TEXT

If sign language is not an option voice to text may

help. Here when having a conversation a person can

speak information into a microphone that will

transpose it as text or write information in text

format and it will be translated into speech.

PROS AND CONS

Pros Cons

• Hearing impaired can receive information being presented through text.

• Sometimes recognition is not exact and there are errors with the text scribed.

WHERE CAN VOICE TO TEXT & VOICE TO SIGN BE OF USE?

Schools

Universities

Airports

Government Institutions

Restaurants

Hospitals

Any public or private place where communication is

necessary

HOW DO VOICE TO TEXT AND VOICE TO S IGN WORK?

1. Speaker speaks into a microphone

2.Speech is recognized by the software and

translated into sign language or visual text. The

animation signs the information or the screen shows

the visual text.

3.The user then responds through typing a response

which is read aloud by a computer voice.

VOICE TO TEXT & VOICE TO SIGN PRODUCTS

IBM SiSi (Say it Sign it)

These are only a few Voice to Text & Voice to Sign products. There are many more on the market, but these will be highlighted.

ICOMMUNICATOR

Interactive software and

tool that transforms speech

to text and American Sign

Language (ASL).

Created by Interactive

Solutions Inc. March 2000

Took 14 months to create

a working piece of software

Click here to view a demonstra

tion of an iCommunicator

IBM SISI (SAY IT SIGN IT)

A system that converts

spoken words into

British Sign

Language(BSL) that is

signed by an animated

digital character.

Created by IBM in

2007.

Click here to view a demonstration

of IBM SiSi System

MIMIX

Technology that

translates spoken and

written words into

American Sign Language

and text into speech.

Compatible with

Android mobile phones

and Desktops.

Production began in

2010.

Click to view Mimix for

Android phone demon

stration

CONCLUSION

There are many forms of communication that can assist the

deaf and hearing impaired today. Of those voice to text and voice

to sign are forms that can and have consistently improved the

avenue of communication between those who have the ability to

hear and those who do not. Today voice to text and voice to sign

have become so efficient that they are used through mediums

such as apps on mobile devices. Voice to text and voice to speech

are an efficient and effective way to bridge the communication

gap that is so prevalent in today’s society.

REFERENCES

Amigo, Nick. iCommunicator: Communicate, Educate, Rehabilitate. 7.

Nov. 2011. http://www.slideshare.net/namigo/icommunicator

Heckendorf, Stacie. Assistive Technology for Students who are Deaf or

Hard of Hearing. “Assessing Students’ Needs for Assistive Technology.”

2009. Pg. 14-15.

http://www.wati.org/content/supports/free/pdf/Ch13-Hearing.pdfSay

It Sign It

Mimix. 2008. http://www.mimix.me/home.aspx

Say It, Sign It. http://mqtt.org/projects/sisi