What is AI-generated Sign Language, and How Does it Work?

Ensuring equal access to information and services is a fundamental principle of inclusivity. Yet, challenges arise when circumstances are not equal. 

For individuals who are deaf and primarily communicate through Sign Language, understanding written content can pose a significant hurdle. 

This has led to innovative solutions such as AI-generated Sign Language.

Sign Language Generation (SLG) solutions translate sentences on websites, video subtitles, written documents, and even real-time speech into sign language, allowing deaf individuals to access information in their first language. 

With this new technology, deaf individuals who prefer to communicate in Sign Language or have difficulty understanding what they read can engage with content in an accessible way. 

Continue reading to learn more about AI-generated Sign Language and how it can potentially reshape the landscape of inclusivity. Also, if you are interested in learning sign language, we have a list of apps that can help you!

What is AI-generated Sign Language?

AI-generated Sign Language is a sign language generated by a computer using machine learning (ML) with a large language model (LLM) rather than another human. It provides more access to sign language without the hindrance of human availability and speed limitations. This can make life more accessible for deaf individuals who have difficulty understanding what they read or rely on Sign Language to access content.

AI-generated Sign Language refers to using artificial intelligence (AI) to interpret spoken or written language into sign language. 

When combined with speech, this technology uses advanced speech recognition algorithms to convert spoken language into text. Then, it translates the processed text into gloss notation, and from the gloss, the AI selects the appropriate signs based on context and meaning. During the process, the program determines the proper grammar, signs, and non-manual markers to convey the message accurately.

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How is American Sign Language different from written English?

In American Sign Language (ASL), communication involves using signs to convey information visually, with a grammatical structure that often places descriptors after the subject is introduced. Unlike English, where adjectives precede nouns, ASL tends to provide details after establishing the subject. 

ASL relies heavily on facial expressions, inflection, tone, and body language to convey nuances, making it a highly expressive language. The language uses gestures and facial expressions for grammar, with complex facial expressions indicating various elements, such as questioning or open-ended inquiries.

Here are key ways in which American Sign Language differs from written English:

* Grammatical Structure Difference

English follows a subject-verb-object (SVO) word order, and meaning is conveyed through the arrangement of words and the use of grammatical structures. Instead, ASL has its own grammar and syntax, and word order alone does not determine meaning. 

* Modality

In American Sign Language (ASL), for example, facial and body movements are integral to grammatical structure. In comparison, English is a spoken and written language, relying on a combination of letters, words, and grammatical structures. It is a two-dimensional, linear representation of language.

* Perception of a Limited Vocabulary

A single sign in ASL can encapsulate a broad range of meanings, allowing for more efficient and dynamic communication. This may give the false perception that ASL has a narrow vocabulary when, in reality, it's a different way of conveying concepts.

Do Deaf Individuals Prefer Sign Language Over Subtitles or Closed Captioning?

According to ASL service provider Languagers, many deaf individuals prefer sign language over subtitles or closed captioning since they find engaging with content in Sign Language easier, considering it their first language.

Now, AI-generated sign language technology has the potential to pull from grammar, expressions, and tones, translating auditory and written English into visible sign language with accuracy to provide a seamless experience for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

Concerns of the Deaf Community

Many Deaf people have mixed feelings about the incoming technology relating to SLG and SLR and the use of AI. There are concerns about accuracy, privacy, and potential for harm. Most Deaf people wish to use AI to supplement gaps and not replace human interpreters. Such gaps include website development, PSAs at trains and airports, emergency notifications, etc. Many deaf and hard of hearing support the implementation of AI and sign language in certain conditions:

• Deaf Led: Communities want to see Deaf people involved in its implementation from beginning to end. That means using Deaf people as models, translators, engineers, and programmers and shaping the user experience with feedback and testing.‍
• Transparency: Deaf people highly value transparency and honesty. Companies that use AI need to be open about the strengths and weaknesses of their program. Businesses that use AI Sign Language translation must prioritize the informed consent of Deaf consumers. 
• ‍Accountability: Deaf want assurances of quality control and oversight. Mistranslation errors, especially in medical or legal situations, can mean life or death outcomes for deaf users. There must be a plan in place for harm reduction.

Can AI-generated Sign Language Benefit Hard of Hearing Individuals?

AI-generated Sign Language can indeed offer significant benefits to individuals who are hard of hearing.

Many people who are hard of hearing learn Sign Language since they often face challenges in understanding verbal information. AI-generated Sign Language empowers them to independently access information in their preferred mode of communication, reducing reliance on interpreters or written materials.

Sign Language Recognition (SLR) through AI also has the capability to translate sign language into text or voice to facilitate the communication of those who rely solely on sign language with people who do not know Sign Language. In this way, AI Sign Language can break communication barriers on all levels.

6 Benefits of AI-generated Sign Language

Beyond promoting inclusivity and fostering accessibility, AI-generated Sign Language technology holds immense potential to bring about transformative advancements across various domains. 

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Here are several key areas where we can observe the benefits of AI-generated Sign Language technology:

1. Comply with Accessibility Standards

Ensures digital content and communication platforms meet regulatory requirements, accommodating diverse communication needs.

2. Reach More People

It broadens the audience you can effectively engage with, reaching individuals who use Sign Language as their primary mode of communication while also connecting deaf individuals from different parts of the world.

3. Create Career Development Opportunities

A deaf-friendly environment opens doors to career advancement by providing access to training materials, professional development resources, and effective communication channels in the workplace.

4. Improve Educational Support

Provides equal access to educational materials and opportunities, promoting active participation and integration in academic activities.

5. Support Health Care 

It empowers deaf individuals to communicate directly with their doctors and receive easily understandable information about their health for improved healthcare outcomes. Although the technology is not designed to replace human interpreters, it could play a vital role when interpreters aren't unavailable or deaf patients opt for a different method. 

6. Advance Assistive Technologies

The development and integration of AI-generated Sign Language contribute to the continuous advancement of assistive technologies, pushing the boundaries of innovation in creating solutions that enhance accessibility.

Nagish and AI

Did you know Nagish also uses AI to benefit our deaf and hard of hearing consumers? We use AI to convert text-to-speech and speech-to-text in real-time, significantly reducing the lag time most relay calls experience. This means you can have conversations almost instantaneously – just as if you were there! 

In addition, our speech recognition technology, along with AI, helps improve transcription accuracy rate. Fewer errors mean fewer misunderstandings, paving the way for more precise and seamless communication for you. 

Into The Future

With AI avatars turning written content and speech into Sign Language in real time, the world becomes more connected and accessible. 

This exciting innovation not only dismantles communication barriers for the deaf and hard of hearing communities but propels us into an era where inclusivity is at the forefront of technological advancements.

As AI-generated Sign Language technology evolves, it's another step towards redefining accessibility standards and fostering a world where everyone, regardless of their hearing abilities, can participate fully and engage meaningfully in all aspects of life, a key focus on our mission at Nagish. 

We’ll keep monitoring as this technology evolves, and even though we're still a long way from full functional equivalency with AI sign language and sign language provided by interpreters, this provides an exciting glimpse into the future of what might be on the horizon. In the meantime, if you’re looking for current AI solutions for communication, the Nagish app is a click away!