SBIR Phase I: Illustrated, Interactive, American Sign Language/Science Videodisk Dictionary

9561203麦克拉根听力障碍儿童由于技术英语词汇的限制或不熟悉适当的符号，往往无法用文字或手语简短地表达自己或交流特定的概念，特别是科学和数学概念。这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目的重点是开发和证明使用交互式视频磁盘（IVD）技术为听力残疾儿童提供图文并举的交互式美国手语/科学词典的可行性。该词典将使用文本、图形、视频、动画和美国手语来定义小学水平的新词。孩子可以通过键盘、触摸屏、IVD控件或其他输入设备调用单词，并显示英语和美国手语的单词定义，也可以通过选择美国手语符号或英语单词来输入定义，以识别代表性单词。研究的第一阶段需要在一个编写工作站的微处理器上制作适合中学生的第一本词典的原型（大约1500个单词）。每一帧将显示一个单词，一个单词的美国手语表示和单词定义的视频，以及一个单词代表什么的图形说明（这个说明可以是静态图形、视频图像、动画图形或卡通）。原型词典将进行alpha测试，并在介绍给其他学生的展示媒体之前由主题专家和用户进行评估。将寻求降低在学校和家庭使用成本的方法，以便最终在IVD系统上实施。这个项目将创建一本可以直接供听力障碍儿童使用的词典。所开发的工具为听力受损的人提供了无限的机会，几乎所有的声音和文字材料都可以为我们国家的大多数人所用。它的创作所涉及的技术可以应用于为广泛的人口群体服务的大量教育材料。这些应用程序包括成人插图词典、游戏、娱乐和培训产品。

9561203 McLagan Children with hearing disabilities are often unable to express themselves or to communicate specific concepts in brief words using text or sign language, especially scientific and mathematical concepts, due to limitations in technical English vocabulary or unfamiliarity with the appropriate sign. This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project focuses on developing and demonstrating the feasibility of providing an illustrated, interactive American Sign Language (ASL)/Science dictionary for children with hearing disabilities using interactive videodisk (IVD) technology. The dictionary will use text, graphics, video, animation, and ASL signs to define new words for elementary school level. The child can call words via keyboard, touch screen, IVD controls, or other input devices and display the word definition in both English and ASL or can input a definition via selection of ASL signs or English words to identify representative words. The first phase of the research entails producing a prototype of a first dictionary (about 1,500 words) appropriate for middle school on a microprocessor, using an authoring workstation. Each frame will display a word, a video of the ASL representation of the word and definition of the word, and a graphical illustration of what the word represents (this illustration can be still graphics, video image, or animated graphics or cartoons). The prototype dictionary will be alpha tested, and evaluated by subject-matter-experts prior to introduction to other student's display media, and by users. Means to reduce the cost for use in schools and at home will be sought for eventual implementation on an IVD system. This project will create a dictionary that can be directly used by children with hearing disabilities. The tools developed offer an unlimited opportunity to present persons with hearing impairments with almost all voice and text material available to the majority of our nation's population. The technique involved in its creat ion can be applied to a vast array of educational materials serving a broad range of demographic groups. These applications include illustrated dictionaries for adults, games, entertainment and training products.