| | SignTel Interpreter
 by Keith Landry
here is new progress in the effort to improve communication between people who are deaf or hard of hearing and hearing individuals. There’s a new beta version of the SignTel Interpreter now available, and it’s designed to be a bridge between sign language and the spoken word. It could help some 20 million people in America have more meaningful communications with hearing individuals.
The SignTel Interpreter incorporates sign language and provides real time translation of spoken and written English into sign language. Maureen Rosselli is a sign language interpreter and a member of the linguistic team at SignTel Inc. She says, "While not meant to replace a live interpreter, this product was developed in the hopes of facilitating interactions between the hearing and the deaf when a live interpreter is not available."
There are more than one hundred deaf, deaf/blind and deaf/low vision employees within the company. They played an important role in developing the product. Lisa Cadoret is an employee who is deaf. "I have worked for the company for almost one year. I would recommend to the deaf and people who are hard of hearing, that they use the SignTel Interpreter for their needs if a live interpreter is not available. I used the interpreter with my daughter’s junior high school counselor, and it helped me to understand what she was saying about my daughter’s progress."
SignTel Inc. plans to sell the product to retail stores for employees to better serve their deaf customers. It will also sell the interpreter to schools as a learning tool. Businesses, hospitals, police stations and social service agencies could also benefit by having the technology available for their clients.
The SignTel Interpreter is housed on a computer. It works by capturing the hearing party's voice through a microphone or via inputted English text, and displaying the translated message in streaming sign language as well as text for the deaf person. The signing figure also enunciates words, making it easy for those who read lips to understand.
The SignTel Interpreter translates the intended meanings of sentences, including common idiomatic expressions. It also is able to differentiate between the multiple meanings of words. It recognizes 30,000 words and phrases, and more are being added.
Rosselli points out phrases such as "beat around the bush" don't make sense when translated into sign language. The SignTel Interpreter translates this phrase into "avoid." Other examples include "cool as a cucumber," which the SignTel Interpreter translates as "calm."
Raanan Liebermann is president/chief executive officer and chief of technology for SignTel. "The SignTel Interpreter can boost productivity, enhance morale and foster improved relationships in diverse environments, ranging from small businesses to large companies and educational institutions. It is the first step in a planned series of products that will remove existing barriers of communication."
Testing of the beta version is going well. Chief of Opertions Cheryl Cwik says, "We have beta test participants in fifteen states and in Canada. Through continuous feedback from these organizations, which include schools for the deaf, commissions for the deaf, government and employment agencies, we have received valuable input as to how the SignTel Interpreter is being used to facilitate communications. The testers have pointed out a few misinterpretations of expressions, and those mistakes are in the process of being corrected."
The beta version includes most of the features of Version One, including text-to-sign language translation. It does not include the voice recognition technology that enables voice-to-sign language translation. Version One will be available in the coming months, and beta version owners will be able to get a free upgrade. The price for the product is still not determined.
SignTel Inc. of North Haven, Connecticut develops assistive devices and communication technologies for the deaf and hard of hearing. Visit the Company's Web site at www.signtelinc.com for more information.
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