Robotic Hand Translates Speech into Sign Language

usermilk writes "Robot educators Keita Matsuo and Hirotsugu Sakai have created a robot hand that translate the spoken word into sign language for the deaf. From the article: 'A microchip in the robot recognizes the 50-character hiragana syllabary and about 10 simple phrases such as "ohayo" (good morning) and sends the information to a central computer, which sends commands to 18 micromotors in the joints of the robotic hand, translating the sound it hears into sign language.'"

Comments

Scutters!

[LiquidCoooled]

They only need to put it on wheels and it can become a scutter.

Additional warning:
Do not let this robot pat you on the back whilst near the top of the stairs.

Picture of robotic hand

[commodoresloat]

signing "I'll be back"

Amy Pretty

[Inkieminstrel]

Tickle... Amy... Tickle

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112715/

I've gotta hand it to these scientists

[commodoresloat]

The robotic hand was shown at a two-legged robot tournament

So it's not just a hand, but a hand with two legs!

Other uses?

[Anonymous Coward]

Anyone else thinking there might be some other 'alternate' use for this device?

This gives a whole new meaning

[sikandril]

This gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "talk to the hand"

it's about form factor

[commodoresloat]

Would this not be more useful as software?

Yes but not nearly as intimidating. Who's going to get their lunch money taken -- deaf kid with a PDA, or deaf kid with a giant robot hand?

MST3000

[GigsVT]

Bah, Joel invented this on MST3000 years ago. Where's my edible sneakers?