Deaf Studies

The term Sign Language Processing is an umbrella term to include sign language recognition, sign language generation, sign language translation, sign language analytics and areas where computation processing for sign languages is required. Effectively encapsulating all Natural Language Processing (NLP), media and computer vision technologies exploited for the processing of sign languages. The primary aim of such technologies is to remove communication barriers that exist for Deaf sign language users and to reduce the technological divide between Deaf and hearing communities. Such a divide is evidenced by a lack of sign language support in virtual assistants (e.g., Google Home, Alexa), language learning tools, and assisted/automated annotation. Sign language processing technologies have also been proposed to anonymise sign language users on social media and other online platforms.

Sign language processing requires expertise in multiple discipline areas. However, few researchers with expertise in sign language linguistics or Deaf Studies also have expertise in a required area of computer science, e.g., computer vision, speech recognition, machine translation, signal processing, natural language processing, machine learning, computer animation and graphics, human-computer interaction, or accessibility. One of the chief aims of the Sign Language Processing research team is to foster an environment where researchers can gain this multi-disciplined expertise in order to tackle current and future challenges in this field.

Those involved in Sign Language Processing research at TU Dublin are also active members of the Irish Deaf Research Network.

Dr. Irene Murtagh (irene.murtagh@tudublin.ie) and Dr. Robert Smith (robert.smith@tudublin.ie) are our leaders of this research area.

 

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