Automatic translation of text phrases into vector images for crisis communication

Abstract

Our contribution to the discipline of Information Systems consists in an attempt to develop a first technical approach for the automatic translation of series of syntagms (text phrases) into “Signagrams”, to improve the management of multilingual information. We develop a new software that provides an instant translation of a written text into signagrams to allow access to information on some topic among national and international users. The signagram is the unit for signage. As an example, we adapt the software to the situation of emergency, where government units have to respond and give instructions to the population. We construct a first ontology for the situation of emergency that we link to the dictionary for signagrams. The translation software is developed in Java. We then test technically the translation method.