Translator glove – instantly translates sign language

International Day of Sign Languages today

Bioengineering specialists have designed a glove capable of instantaneously translating American Sign Language into speech.

The “translator” glove contains thin, extendable sensors that work down to the fingertips that are able to pick up hand and finger movements through electrical conductors.

These sensors are connected to an electrical circuit about the size of a coin, which the user wears on his wrist, according to the British newspaper The Independent.

When a person moves their hand and fingers, the glove is able to translate letters, numbers, words and phrases into spoken words, just like simultaneous translation.
Additional facial sensors, between the eyebrows and on either side of the mouth, can be added to capture facial expressions.

The actual translation is done through an application called “Custom” in smartphones, which uses a dedicated machine learning algorithm to convert gestures into letters, numbers and words.

The system recognizes 660 signs, which include every letter of the alphabet and numbers from zero to nine, and can quickly translate one word per second.

The University of California has filed a patent for this translation glove, as a commercial version of this technology will require adding more vocabulary and increasing translation speed.

Lead researcher on the project, John Chen, said: “We hope that this invention will open the door for people who use sign language to communicate directly with others without the need for someone else to translate for them. In addition, we hope that it will help more people learn sign language themselves.

The glove is distinguished from other wearables in its mobility and weight, as previous wearables offered similar features, but were heavy and impractical to wear.
This new design is much lighter and less expensive in terms of electronic components and the fabric used in the glove.

However, some deaf researchers have criticized this development.

“This technology is redundant because deaf people currently use text-to-speech or text translation software on their mobile phones, or simply They write with pen and paper, or even make clear gestures, and there is no problem with these forms of communication.”

“It would be better if technology focused on user-centric inventions in the first place, rather than dreaming of ‘solutions’ believed to fix all the problems in the world,” she added.