Slashdot Mirror
Sign Language Via Cell Phone
QuatumCrypto writes "A project is underway at the University of Washington to enable real-time sign language communication via cell phone. Because of the low-bandwidth wireless cell phone network, a new compression scheme is necessary to capture only the bare essential components of signing to minimize data transfer. Although text messaging is a viable alternative for everyone, signing — like speech — is a much faster and more convenient form of communication."
I often use sign language to people using cell phones while they're driving.
No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
I still think deaf people should communicate by getting to kick non-deaf people in the crouch. It works similiar to morse code, but with "crunches" and "squishes" instead of "dots" and "lines".
But I'm one for giving handicapped people excuses to hurt the rest of us. It just seems fair. And I wear a cup.
Ginga no Rekshiya Mata Each page.
No, what you need is a pair of wiimote-like gloves that you wear which are connected to a tiny robot monkey on the recipients cellphone that mimics your movements. The recipient, in turn, wears another pair of gloves which are connected to the robot monkey on your phone.
OK, so instead of a robot monkey you could have a little animated monkey on your display, but a robot monkey would be better. Tiny robot monkeys is how Apple will implement it on the iPhone while the rest of the industry just has animated monkeys. Either way, watch for "signing monkeys" on Google Trends.
...sorry, that was a reflex.