Glove With Sign Language

Bioengineers have designed a glove that is able to translate American Sign Language to speech in real time.

A glove that translates sign language into speech in real time has been developed by scientists -- potentially allowing deaf people to communicate directly with anyone, without the need for a translator.

The wearable device contains sensors that run along the four fingers and thumb to identify each word, phrase or letter as it is made in American Sign Language.

Those signals are then sent wirelessly to a smartphone, which translates them into spoken words at a rate of one word per second.
The glove has thin, stretchable sensors inside which run to the fingertips. These sensors are able to pick up and motions and finger placement through electrically conducting yarns.
Those sensors are then connected to a small piece of circuit board – approximately the size of a coin – that users wear on their wrists.

As such, when people move their hands and fingers to sign words, the glove is able to translate the individual letters, numbers, words and phrases into spoken words.
Extra sensors can be added to the face, between the eyebrows and on the sides of the mouth, to capture facial expressions.

Scientists at UCLA, where the project was developed, believe the innovation could allow for easier communication for deaf people. "Our hope is that this opens up an easy way for people who use sign language to communicate directly with non-signers without needing someone else to translate for them," said lead researcher Jun Chen.