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Theses Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Fall 1-31-2005
Parameter based synthesis of sign language
Amanda Irving New Jersey Institute of Technology
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Recommended Citation Irving, Amanda, "Parameter based synthesis of sign language" (2005). Theses. 463. https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/463
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The Van Houten library has removed some of the personal information and all signatures from the approval page and biographical sketches of theses and dissertations in order to protect the identity of NJIT graduates and faculty. ABSTRACT
PARAMETER BASED SYNTHESIS OF SIGN LANGUAGE
The primary objective of this project is to demonstrate synthesis of signs in American
Sign Language with a finite number of parameters. The parameters in this method include 22 key locations, six location modifiers, six orientation indicators, 46 hand shapes, six predefined movements and seven possible end effectors. These parameters can be used in conjunction with a computer script and they maximize precision and versatility while minimizing development time and resources. The parameters for each sign are stored in an individual text file averaging approximately half a kilobyte.
The success of this project is demonstrated using UGS's Jack Software, Version
4.0. Jack is a tool for the animation of human movement. The human Jack is modeled using joint angle limits and inverse kinematics methods when moving any limb to a destination. A Python interface to Jack can take the English equivalent of the sign as an input, call its parameters and command Jack to sign.
A graphical user interface (GUI) was constructed using MATLAB 6.5 as a user friendly tool to help grow the database of parmetrically coded signs. The GUI takes all the parameters identified for each sign and prints them to a file. The GUI is easily expandable and new parameters will be implemented in the future. The parameters of these signs will be used in the future as the foundation for sign recognition technology.
Animation of sign language is a significant step toward a fully integrated ASL/English translator. PARAMETER BASED SYNTHESIS OF SIGN LANGUAGE
by Amanda Irving
A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of New Jersey Institute of Technology in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Department of Biomedical Engineering
January 2005
APPROVAL PAGE
PARAMETER BASED SYNTHESIS OF SIGN LANGUAGE
Amanda Irving
Dr. Richard Foulds, Dissertation Advisor Date Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering, NJIT,
Dr. William Hunter, Committee Member Date Professor, Biomedical Engineering, NJIT
Dr. Sergei Adamovich, Committee Member Date Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering, NJIT BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Author: Amanda Irving
Degree: Master of Science
Date: December 2004
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Education: • Master of Science, Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 2004
• Bachelor of Science, Interdisciplinary Mathematics: Electrical Science University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 2003 Funded by:
Grants from the
Pfeiffer Foundation
and
Millbank Foundation
v A E O CO E S
C a e age
1 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Objective 1
1.2 Causality of Deafness 2
1.3 Technological Resources 4
1.3.1 TDD and Relay Services 4
1.3.2 Common Text Based Technologies 5
1.3.3 Common Video Based Technologies 5
1.3.4 The Impact of the Cell Phone 6
1.4 Human Resources 6
1.4.1 Translators 6
1.4.2 Lip Reading 7
1.4.3 Managing in the Work Place 8
2.1 Origins 10
2.2 Grammatical Structure and Lexicon 11
2.2.1 Sign Components 12
2.2.2 Stationary Signs 12
2.2.3 Non-Stationary Signs 13
2.2.4 Iconicity in Signs 14
2.2.5 Directional Signs 15