Baidu AI Cloud announces the launch of its new artificial intelligence-powered on-device sign language platform that can translate speech to hand signs in real-time.
The recently released AI technology creates digital avatars for sign language translation and live interpretation within minutes. Baidu aims to help the deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) population break down communication barriers by increasing the accessibility of automated sign language translation using the translator.
Baidu has released two all-in-one AI sign language translators that offer a one-stop-shop with a simple set-up process and plug-and-play functionality. According to the company, their translator will be deployed during the Beijing Winter Paralympics Games 2022.
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With its “action fusion algorithm,” the platform has categorized approximately 11,000 actions based on the National Universal Sign Language Dictionary, ensuring that all digital sign language gestures are as coherent and expressive as human sign language.
The production and management expenses of digital avatars have been significantly decreased because of AI’s technological enablement, allowing artificial intelligence sign language to scale and serve more deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
There are 27.8 million deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) people in China, yet there is a severe scarcity of skilled experts to meet their needs, with only 10,000 sign language translators. Therefore, Baidu’s new technology will considerably help such people effectively communicate with the world.
Recently, Indian engineering student Priyanjali Gupta developed an artificial intelligence model that is capable of translating American sign language into English in real-time.
Baidu recruited over 500 Chinese professors and students with hearing loss to help expand and vet the sign language corpus. The recruitment will help Baidu maintain high accuracy standards for its speech to hand sign translator.
Tiantian Yuan, associate dean of Tianjin University of Technology’s Technical College for the Deaf, said that she and her students are immens
