On the Implementation of Text to Arabic Sign Language Converter on Mobile Phones
By Al-Khalifa, Hend S.; Technology and Disability, Volume 23, Number 2, pages 65-74Publication Date: 2011
Paper presents the design and implementation of a mobile system that converts written Arabic text to Arabic Sign Language (ArSL) using a signing avatar that operates on mobile phones. The Text to Arabic Sign Language Converter system consists of a three-dimensional (3D) avatar, a conversion process, an avatar animation process, and 4 types of resource files. The conversion process analyzes entered text according to Arabic morphology rules and retrieves their corresponding signs utilizing the 4 resource files containing two-word compounds, stems, characters, and sign coordinates. The system includes a user interface the options of which are: (1) Translate, which converts a word or sentence from Arabic text to ArSL; (2) Replay, which replays the animation of the sign language conversion; (3) Slow Replay at a slower speed; (4) Return to previous window, (5) Return to main window, (6) Spelling, which finger spells text in Arabic sign language; and (7) Dictionary, where the user can browse the content of the resource files. A demo application, developed to demonstrate the possibility of using mobile phones as a portable ArSL converter, can be downloaded from http://sites.google.com/site/arslmobile. System limitations and implications for further development of the application are discussed.
Published by: IOS Press (Website:http://www.iospress.nl)
Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (AAATE) (Web Site: http://www.aaate.net )
