The
objective of the ViSiCAST project is to produce adaptable
communication tools allowing sign language communication
where only speech and text are available at present. These
tools will be based on advanced technology for the synthetic
generation, transmission, and storage of sign language to
be developed by the project.
By
the end of the project:
(1)
a face to face transaction virtual signing system will have
been trialed in UK Post Offices by at least 2 clerks and
a panel of 5 deaf users;
(2)
the signing preparation and virtual signing system will
have been used to prepare and present at least 4 sample
television programmes with virtual signing, and the feasibility
of broadcast transmission of virtual signing within MPEG-2
multiplexes will have been established both through transmissions
in the UK and Germany;
|
|
(3)
the World Wide Web tools will have been installed and used
in Web sites, and these will have been evaluated by representative
members of the deaf community. The aim is to install examples
of the annotated GML-based signing on at least 5 of the
Web sites of the ViSiCAST participants.
To
achieve these objectives the project is structured to have
three application-orientated Work Packages, each focusing
on the technical issues in delivery for that specific application
area, and two enabling technology Work Packages, focusing
on virtual signing, sign language representation, and sign
language synthesis from conventional textual sources. A
further evaluation Work Package is concerned with eliciting
feedback from deaf people at various stages within the development
of the system.
|