Access to information is a human right. In this modern, globalised world this implies access to multilingual content and cross-lingual communication with others. Crossing language barriers is essential for global information exchange and unobstructed, fair communication.
One in a thousand people in the EU (approximately half a million Deaf or hard-of-hearing people) communicates in one of 31 national or regional sign languages as their first language.
SignON - Sign Language Translation Mobile Application and Open Communications Framework - will cross the language barrier between Deaf sign language users, hard of hearing and hearing people. SignON will tear down this information barrier that currently exists.
Bridging the communication gap between Deaf, hard of hearing and hearing people through an accessible translation service
A unique approach that brings together academic expertise, user community dynamics and innovation capacity
The SignON project is unprecedented, not only because an effective communication service between the target groups has not been previously developed, but also because of our research and innovation approach as well as our co-creation workflow.
This virtual character is named EVA (Embodied Virtual Agent) and signs "good". EVA is still in the early stages now and will be fine-tuned throughout the project.
About SignON
SignON is a community-driven project that aims to facilitate information exchange among Deaf, hard of hearing and hearing individuals.
The SignON communication service will be more than a machine translation system. Sophisticated features will allow for user-adaptation and automatic error correction.
The SignON consortium brings together a wide-ranging and complementary set of skills and expertise. Our consortium includes members who represent and/or work closely with deaf communities (EUD, VGTC, DCU, KU Leuven and TCD); sign linguistics (KU Leuven, TCD, DCU, TU Dublin), exploitation, innovation and design (MAC, VRT and FINCONS); natural language processing, infrastructure and policies (TU Dublin, NTU, UPF, INT and KU Leuven); machine translation and quality estimation (UPV/EHU, KU Leuven, TiU); sign language recognition (UGent and UCD); 3D animation and avatar synthesis (TU Dublin and UPF/GTI group); automated speech recognition (RU).
About SignON
SignON is a user-centric and community-driven project that aims to facilitate the exchange of information among Deaf, hard of hearing and hearing individuals across Europe, targeting the Irish, British, Dutch, Flemish and Spanish sign as well as the English, Irish, Dutch and Spanish spoken languages.
