SBIR Phase I: ASL Literacy Support System

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将研究生产硬件/软件系统的可行性，该系统将使用户能够：1）扫描纸质文本; 2）阅读屏幕文本; 3）输入并使文本显示在软件中，该软件支持美国手语图形和视频剪辑。该软件还将使用户能够编辑、打印、选择适当的标志（当有多个标志与英文单词匹配时）、“隐藏”标志（当不需要支持时）、通过索引检索标志图形/视频以及生成抽认卡和标志/单词匹配图。该项目的成果将导致创建一个软件测试版，使用具有5，000个符号/单词的笔扫描功能，并计划进行屏幕阅读。许多聋儿在阅读方面遇到了困难，因为这个过程很大程度上依赖于听觉理解。聋人教师经常将文本重新翻译成美国手语，或用符号增强文本，使学生更容易理解。研究表明，将符号与文本结合起来，为利用多元智能和学习风格发展早期识字技能提供了一种多模式方法。因此，用符号强化文本的过程涉及到费力的复制、绘制、剪切和/或粘贴。美国手语是一种不同于英语的视觉/手势语言。许多依赖手语的聋人并不具备良好的英语能力。由于英语是一种听觉中介语言，依赖于语音代码，因此聋儿的阅读成绩通常远远低于听力相当的儿童。聋人学生阅读技能水平低的一个特别有趣的方面是，虽然他们可能不理解印刷品中的句子，但如果用美国手语呈现，他们可能完全理解。将手语纳入早期阅读技能培训也很快得到了幼儿教育工作者的青睐，他们长期以来一直在努力寻找有趣和富有成效的方法来积极吸引幼儿参与这一过程。该产品将是非常有用的教师，商务人员，语音/语言病理学家等谁有需要支持与美国手语符号的英语文本的理解为目的的识字提高，课程增强，或沟通。该产品将使用户能够输入，扫描文本或阅读屏幕，并以合理的价格输出文本与ASL图形和/或视频支持。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will examine the feasibility of producing a hardware/software system that will enable a user to: 1) scan paper-based text; 2) read screen-based text; and 3) type and have that text appear in software that supports it with American Sign Language graphics and video clips in real time. This software also will enable the user to edit, print, select appropriate signs when more than one match the English word, 'hide' signs when support is not wanted, retrieve sign graphics/video through an index, and generate flashcards and sign/word matching worksheets. This outcomes of this project will result in creation of a software beta version using pen scanning capabilities having 5,000 signs/words, and planning for screen reading. Many deaf children are challenged by reading since this process largely depends on auditory understanding. Teachers of the deaf frequently re-interpret text into ASL or enhance it with signs to render it more comprehensible to their students. Research has shown that incorporation of signs with text provides a multimodal approach to the development of early literacy skills that utilizes multiple intelligences and learning styles. Heretofore, the process of reinforcing text with signs has involved laborious copying, drawing, cutting, and/or pasting.ASL is a visual/gestural language distinct from English. Many deaf people who rely on sign language do not have good facility with English. Because English is an auditory mediated language that depends upon phonological code, reading achievement scores of deaf children usually fall far short of those found among hearing children of comparable abilities. A particularly interesting aspect of the low reading skill levels displayed by deaf students is that while they may not understand a sentence in print, they may understand it perfectly if it is presented in ASL. Incorporation of sign language into early reading skills training is fast gaining favor also among early childhood educators who have long struggled with finding fun and productive ways to actively engage young children in the process. This product will be tremendously useful to teachers, business personnel, speech/language pathologists, etc. who have a need to support understanding of English text with ASL signs for purposes of literacy improvement, curriculum enhancement, or communication. This product will enable users to type, scan text, or read screens and have output in text with ASL graphics and/or video support at an affordable price.