TeleSign: a sign language telecommunication system

Abstract

TeleSign is a natural language telecommunication system for deaf and other users of a sign language (such as American Sign Language). It enables real-time telephone sign language communication. It operates on a 32-bit portable computer system with standard modem communication capabilities. TeleSign consists of an instrumented glove worn on the dominant hand of each signing participant. The glove measures the position and motion of the fingers. In addition, an absolute position and orientation sensor is worn on both wrists of each signer. The finger, hand, and wrist data from one signer are used to construct a corresponding dynamic three-dimensional graphic image of the hand and arm (in second-person perspective) on the computer screen of a second signer. On the screen the graphic hands and arms move in front of a graphic image of a human head and torso to provide position reference.<>