Abstract:
Several research projects have been developed for delivering Sign Language
dictionary systems in recent years. These projects translate spoken words into Sign
Language animations. They run as standalone applications or as Web applications
from centralised Web servers. However, none of these studies has proposed a
practical Sign Language dictionary, which translates spoken words into Sign
Language using Web Services and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
technology.
This project researches a new concept of Sign Language mobile learning. This new
concept promotes the opening, interoperability and mobility of Sign Language
dictionaries based on Web Services and MMS messaging protocols. These
technologies, which have not yet been adapted and tamed, would potentially address
some of the more urgent needs and requirements for interoperability and mobility of
Sign Language dictionaries. These technologies will potentially allow Sign Language
dictionaries to support interoperable applications over heterogeneous networks,
thereby supporting users¿ mobility.
This research and related future research were motivated by several ethical
considerations. The main motivation was to provide an efficient and personal means
of supporting deaf people and also supporting hearing people's communication with
deaf people.
The research will address the technical requirements of such a system. This will allow
users and application developers to become first class promoters of the learning of
Sign Languages by facilitating the programming of a Sign Language Mobile Web
Service with minimal time, code customisation, cost, hardware, and software
requirements.
