Indian sign language recognition and search results

The deaf and hard-of-hearing community often experiences communication barriers due to people who are not well-versed in the use of sign language.[1] This project would address this problem by developing an all-embracing machine learning (ML) model which would be able to interpret and translate the hand movements of American Sign Language (ASL) and Indian Sign Language (ISL) into corresponding spoken or written language in real time.[2] In using data from cameras, the system is designed to precisely predict and translate gestures both ASL and ISL. The solution integrates Natural Language Processing for context-aware translations and hence lets the system interpret the surrounding context for more meaningful and accurate implications. Moreover, the final project will explore the utilization of advanced Gesture recognition technologies, which might include the deep learning models and recurrent neural networks, shall enhance the system's accuracy as well as adaptability.[3] Data input multimodality will enhance gesture recognition: examples include skeletal tracking and hand shape analysis. User-friendly interface; it will be made possible for the users to interact with customization options of settings, preferences, including but not limited to language voice options.[6] Moreover, the project includes the potential for integration with other assistive technologies, such as speech-to-text devices and AR equipment among others, to provide a comprehensive communication assistant. At the end of it all, this project would empower the deaf and hard-of-hearing community by ensuring effective communication between the hearing population and the deaf and hard-of-hearing, social inclusion and access. The solution will be plentiful in schools, the workplaces, and public services, so all will be provided with the potentially useful tool of increasing accessibility and understanding.

The Shape of Air: American Sign Language as Narrative Prosthesis in 21st Century North American Media

Barriers in expressive and receptive communication for individuals with hearing and speech impairments remain a significant challenge to achieving equitable social interaction and digital accessibility. These limitations restrict their participation in everyday conversations, education, and professional environments, emphasizing the urgent need for intelligent assistive communication technologies. This research introduces an AI-driven real-time Indian Sign Language (ISL) recognition framework that integrates advanced computer vision and deep learning techniques to translate hand gestures into textual outputs. The primary objective of this study is to design a lightweight, accurate, and real-time sign language translator suitable for Divyangjan, ensuring inclusivity in educational and social interactions. The proposed research employs Mediapipe-based hand landmark extraction to detect 21 key points in each gesture frame, followed by preprocessing and normalisation to create robust spatial representations. A hybrid Convolutional Neural Network processes these landmark vectors through a Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (CNN–BiLSTM) model that captures both spatial and temporal dependencies in gesture motion, allowing it to recognise static and dynamic gestures such as J and Z. The system was trained on a self-collected dataset of over 26,000 gesture images covering all 26 ISL alphabets. Experimental analysis demonstrates that the proposed model achieved 97.8 percent accuracy, 97.4 percent precision, 97.2 percent recall, 97.3 percent F1-score, and a validation loss of only 0.08, outperforming traditional classifiers such as Random Forest and SVM by a significant margin. The trained model performs robustly under varying lighting, background, and hand orientation conditions, ensuring high reliability for real-world deployment. The novelty of this study lies in the fusion of Mediapipe landmark extraction with a temporal deep learning framework for continuous ISL gesture translation within an interactive CustomTkinter GUI. This human-centric, computationally efficient design enables accessible, real-time communication for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, contributing to socially assistive AI systems that promote digital inclusivity and empowerment for Divyangjan.

Sign Language Recognition (SLR) targets on interpreting the sign language into text or speech, so as to facilitate the communication between deaf-mute people and ordinary people. The task has broad social impact, but is still very challenging due to the complexity and large variations in hand actions. Existing dataset for Sign Language Recognition (SLR) in Bangla Sign Language (BdSL) is based on RGB images. Recent research on sign language recognition has shown better recognition accuracy using depth-based features. In this paper, we present a complete dataset for Bangla sign digits from Zero (Shunno in Bangla) to Nine (Noy in Bangla) using MediaPipe, a cross-platform depth-map estimation framework. The proposed method can utilize hand skeleton joint points containing depth information in addition to x, y coordinates from RGB images only. To validate the effectiveness of our proposed approach, we have run MediaPipe on a benchmark American Sign Language (ASL) dataset. Running different classifiers in our proposed dataset we got 98.65% using Support Vector Machine (SVM). Moreover, we compared our dataset with the existing Bangla digit dataset Ishara Bochon using deep learning based approach and achieved significantly higher accuracy.

This paper aims to shed light on the common discourse markers in Sign Language, particularly Pakistani Sign Language. Pakistani Sign Language is overlooked and emerges as a non-standardized. These gestures/ discourse markers will be studied in comparison to American Sign Language (ASL). The main features will be analysed that call for a detailed analysis based on the use, the universality and application. This research aims to study if there is any influence of gender on these discourse markers. The Pakistan Sign Language Corpus will be collected and analysed with the assistance of Sign Language Interpreters. Furthermore, to see for any consistent language specific functions that these languages may share will also be accounted and noted. Keywords: Sign Language, Discourse markers, gender, American Sign Language, Pakistani Sign Language

Communication is essential to humans because it allows the dissemination of knowledge and the formation of interpersonal connections. We communicate through speaking, facial expressions, hand gestures, reading, writing, and sketching, among other things. However, speaking is the most often utilized means of communication. People having speech and hearing disabilities can only communicate using hand gestures, making them extremely reliant on nonverbal modes of communication. Hearing-impaired persons can communicate via sign language. Globally, around 1 percent(5 million) of the Indian population falls into this group. ISL is a complete language with its own vocabulary, semantics, lexicon, and a variety of other distinctive linguistic features. In our work, we present the methods for Indian sign language recognition at the character and word levels. The Bag of Visual Words(BoVW) technique recognizes ISL at character level(A-Z, 0-9) with an accuracy of 99 percent. Indian Lexicon Sign Language Dataset - INCLUDE-50 dataset is used for word-level sign language recognition. Inception model, a deep Convolutional Neural Network(CNN) is used to train the spatial features and LSTM RNN(Recurrent Neural Network) is used to train the temporal features of the video. Using CNN predictions as input to RNN, we achieved an accuracy of 86.7 %. In order to optimize the training process, only 60 % of the dataset is trained using the Meta-Learning model along with LSTM RNN and obtained an accuracy of 84.4 %, thus reducing the training time by 70 % and reaching nearly as close accuracy as the previous pre-trained model.

Sign language is a means of communication that uses visual gestures and signs and is primarily used by individuals who are Hearing and Speech Impaired.Effective communication between the Hearing and Speech Impaired and the general population requires familiarity and knowledge of sign language on both ends.Unfortunately, only a small percentage of people have received training in Indian Sign Language (ISL), which incorporates static and dynamic signs and single and double-handed signs.Additionally, there are regional variations in ISL signs for the same alphabet.Thus, there is a pressing need for assistive technology to facilitate communication in this community.To achieve this goal, a comprehensive study of the various approaches to ISL recognition is necessary.Our study includes an in-depth survey of the different techniques used for image and video preprocessing, as well as feature extraction.We also identified existing machine and deep learning approaches that enable the accurate recognition of ISL signs.This survey has provided valuable insights into the gaps and challenges in the field of ISL recognition.

Contents: Preface. Part I: Reminiscences. L. Fant, Two Memorable Meals With Ursula and Ed. R.M. Battison, American Sign Language Linguistics 1970-1980: Memoir of a Renaissance. B. Bragg, A Fish Story for Ursula and Other Remembrances. Part II: Historical and Comparative Analyses of Sign Languages. J. Woodward, Sign Languages and Sign Language Families in Thailand and Vietnam. D. McKee, G. Kennedy, Lexical Comparisons of Signs From American, Australian, British, and New Zealand Sign Languages. H. Lane, R.C. Pillard, M. French, Origins of the American Deaf-World: Assimilating and Differentiating Societies and Their Relation to Genetic Patterning. Part III: Language in the Visual-Spatial Modality. E.L. Newport, T. Supalla, Sign Language Research at the Millennium. P. Siple, Attentional Resources and Working Memory: A New Framework for the Study of the Impact of Deafness on Cognition. M. Wilson, K. Emmorey, When Does Modality Matter? Evidence From ASL on the Nature of Working Memory. P.B. Braem, T. Bram, A Pilot Study of the Expressive Gestures Used by Classical Orchestra Conductors. N. Frishberg, An Interpreter Creates the Space. Part IV: Linguistic Analysis of Sign Languages. S.D. Fischer, More Than Just Handwaving: The Mutual Contributions of Sign Language and Linguistics. R.B. Wilbur, Phonological and Prosodic Layering of Nonmanuals in American Sign Language. R.C. Loew, C.T. Akamatsu, M. Lanaville, A Two-Handed Manual Alphabet in the United States. E. Pizzuto, V. Volterra, Iconicity and Transparency in Sign Languages: A Cross-Linguistic Cross-Cultural View. M. Kuntze, Codeswitching in ASL and Written English Language Contact. S.K. Liddell, Indicating Verbs and Pronouns: Pointing Away From Agreement. Part V: Language Acquisition. J.G. Bettger, Viewing Deaf Children in a New Way: Implications of Bellugi and Klima's Research for Education. R.P. Meier, Shared Motoric Factors in the Acquisition of Sign and Speech. A. Abrahamsen, Explorations of Enhanced Gestural Input to Children in the Bimodal Period. D. Lillo-Martin, Early and Late in Language Acquisition: Aspects of the Syntax and Acquisition of Wh-Questions in American Sign Language. J. Reilly, Bringing Affective Expression Into the Service of Language: Acquiring Perspective Marking in Narratives. C.A. Padden, V.L. Hanson, Search for the Missing Link: The Development of Skilled Reading in Deaf Children. L.A. Petitto, On the Biological Foundations of Human Language. Part VI: The Neural Organization of Sign Language. A.R. Damasio, H. Damasio, Language and the Brain. D.P. Corina, Some Observations Regarding Paraphasia in American Sign Language. H. Poizner, D. Brentari, M.E. Tyrone, J. Kegl, The Structure of Language as Motor Behavior: Clues From Signers With Parkinson's Disease. V.A. Fromkin, On the Uniqueness of Language.

A major challenge faced by our society is the difficulty individuals with disabilities encounter in expressing their emotions to others. People with disabilities often depend on sign (gesture) languages for communication. This project aims to develop a model capable of recognizing and translating sign language alphabets from hand gestures into text and audio. The primary objective is to enhance communication between individuals with hearing impairments and the broader society. We assessed our model's performance using a publicly accessible Indian Sign Language (ISL) dataset. For image classification, we employed Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) with the Inception V3 architecture. Hand gestures are captured through webcams, and our model identifies the corresponding alphabet for each gesture. This project seeks to overcome current challenges in Sign Language Recognition and aims to enhance its effectiveness and efficiency.

Sign Language is one of the prime applications of facial expression recognition system. It is an easy task for a human being to identify the expression of a person in a particular image sequence but not many efficient fully automated systems are available to perform this task. Lot of work has been done to automate the recognition system for many sign languages like Turkish Sign Language (TSL) [2], American Sign Language (ASL) [3], Chinese Sign Language (CSL) [4] etc. But rare effort has been done for any of the Indian Sign Language (ISL). Therefore, in this paper, a large video data set of Indian Sign Language (ISL) is prepared consisting of some of the expressions. Further, an automatic facial expression recognition system is developed to identify the expressions performed in these videos. Also same algorithm is run on the Turkish sign language data set provided by Aran et al. [2] and a comparison is provided between these two dataset.

Sign Language is a way of communication used by hearing-impaired people. As many normal people don’t know the Sign Language it is difficult to understand by them to understand thus, increasing the communication gap between normal and hearing-impaired people. To overcome this problem many systems,using Machine Learning(ML), Artificial Intelligence(AI), Deep Learning(DL), computer vision methods, were developed and being developed. These systems are used to translate Indian Sign Language(ISL) to understandable text, facilitating the communication between normal and hearing-impaired people. This study briefly explains various type of Indian Sign Language(ISL) recognition systems.

Sign language plays a crucial role as a communication tool for both the deaf and hard-of- hearing communities, enabling them to engage and interact effectively within their own community as well as with others.However, communication barriers arise when individuals unfamiliar with sign language engage with those who rely on it, underscoring the need for inclusive solutions. Real-time sign language interpretation systems, leveraging machine learning and computer vision technologies, present a promising approach to bridging this gap. These systems convert sign language gestures into spoken or written language by utilizing gesture recognition algorithms, neural networks, and natural language processing. By analyzing hand movements, facial expressions, and body language, the systems provide accurate, context-aware translations of various sign languages, such as American Sign Language (ASL), with minimal delay. This enables seamless, natural interactions, making such technologies essential for fostering inclusive communication in diverse settings. Key Words: Sign language recognition, real- time interpretation, machine learning, com- puter vision, gesture recognition, neural networks, natural language processing, communication barriers, inclusivity, American Sign Language (ASL).

Sign Language Recognition (SLR) has become an essential area of research due to its potential to promote understanding between the deaf and hearing communities through communication. This paper provides an in-depth study of various methodologies and models employed in SLR, focusing on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN). We analyze their application to datasets from various sign languages, such as Arabic Sign Language (ArSL), American Sign Language (ASL), and British Sign Language (BSL), and explore how these models improve the recognition of dynamic, multi-dimensional hand gestures. This research not only advances the understanding of deep learning applications in sign language recognition but also addresses critical challenges in data processing and real-time applications, paving the way for inclusive technologies in informatics and human-computer interaction. Despite the progress in applying deep learning techniques to SLR, several challenges remain, particularly in dataset limitations, handling large vocabularies, and ensuring consistent performance across diverse environments and signers. The paper also investigates the broader applications of SLR, such as virtual reality, healthcare, education, and accessibility, and discusses the integration of SLR with human-computer interaction systems. Furthermore, it highlights current limitations in the field, such as difficulties with video data handling, the need for standard datasets, and issues related to training computational models. Finally, the paper outlines future research directions, including developing more robust SLR systems that can function effectively in uncontrolled environments, improving data collection methodologies, and creating real-time, user-friendly applications to assist the community of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.

Sign languages are crucial in promoting independent living for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. They offer a means of communication that facilitates access to various aspects of daily life and supports autonomy. The deaf community in India, estimated at over 18 million individuals, faces significant communication barriers due to the limited use of Indian sign language (ISL) by the general population. This chapter explores the potential of machine learning (ML) for Indian sign language detection as a bridge between the deaf and hearing communities. The authors delve into existing research on sign language recognition (SLR) systems, analyze the challenges specific to ISL detection, and propose future directions leveraging advancements in ML. By examining the sociolinguistic landscape and the potential impact of ML-powered ISL detection, this chapter aims to contribute to a more inclusive society.

IsharaNet: A robust nested feature fusion coupled with attention incorporated width scaled lightweight architecture for Bengali sign language recognition