An automatic sign recognition and translation system

A sign is something that suggests the presence of a fact, condition, or quality. Signs are everywhere in our lives. They make our lives easier when we are familiar with them. But sometimes they pose problems. For example, a tourist might not be able to understand signs in a foreign country. This paper discusses problems of automatic sign recognition and translation. We present a system capable of capturing images, detecting and recognizing signs, and translating them into a target language. We describe methods for automatic sign extraction and translation. We use a user-centered approach in system development. The approach takes advantage of human intelligence if needed and leverage human capabilities. We are currently working on Chinese sign translation. We have developed a prototype system that can recognize Chinese sign input from a video camera that is a common gadget for a tourist, and translate the signs into English or voice stream. The sign translation, in conjunction with spoken language translation, can help international tourists to overcome language barriers. The technology can also help a visually handicapped person to increase environmental awareness.