AI Integration into ASL

SignLanguageAI

Aside from YouTube or TikTok videos and apps, there is only a limited number of free resources available to use by the people to learn ASL. As the term progresses, it is sometimes difficult to discover new tools and resources that I could potentially use to learn ASL and review it on a blog. 

The tool that I will be discussing in this blog was not mentioned in any videos that I watched. I was scrolling through X, formerly known as Twitter, and found this tool that is being recommended by a random person who also used it to learn ASL.  

The online tool is from a website called SignLanguageAI. This tool is like the applications that I have talked about in terms of the amazing ability to search up specific phrases and words and it will show you how to sign them.  

There are three different aspects to this resource:  

Sign Language to English Translation 

• With this feature, users can sign words, phrases, and sentences in front of their camera or webcam while the tool’s AI integration translates the signed words into English sentences. This tool is helpful, especially if the user is unsure whether they are signing words and sentences correctly. If the AI can translate your sign accurately, then that means you are doing it correctly. 

English to Sign Language Translation 

• This one is fun. You can type words, phrases, or sentences in the search bar and the AI will translate it into their sign equivalents. The only downside to SignLanguageAI is its word vocabulary. As seen in the video, “class” is not in the vocabulary of this tool, so it shows up as just the word in the translation. So, if you typed it in the dictionary, it will not pop up, at all. 

 

Sign Language Dictionary 

• This one is self-explanatory. You can search for specific words to learn how to sign them. This feature has five aspects to it: an Alphabet Search, a Typed Search, a Handshape Search, a Category Search, and an Emoji Search. 

• The Alphabet and Typed Search is self-explanatory, so I won’t be walking about them.

• The Handshape Search is interesting. Under “change handshape”, the user can pick among fifty different handshapes. When you pick a particular handshape, the tool will show you words in sign form that incorporates that handshape.  

• The Category Search contains fourteen different categories that range from Baby signs to Clothing Signs to Time signs. If the user requires more organization when learning sign language, I suggest using this Category Search. 

• Last is the Emoji Search. I guess this one is also self-explanatory. This feature will show you a list of emojis, and under them are videos on how to sign them. I found this interesting as I did not know there were sign versions of emojis. But if you really think about it, they are really signing the words associated to that particular emoji, and not the emoji itself. 

Overall, I found this tool interesting as it integrates the now growing AI resources into sign language. This is a tool that someone can potentially use in their journey of learning ASL. However, I would not recommend learning ASL through SignLanguageAI alone because of its limitations. It would be better if one uses the applications and YouTube channels I discussed in my posts, along with this AI tool.