Have you ever been in a position where someone is trying to speak to you in sign language but you don’t understand it? Two Portuguese designers that are based in Sydney have come up with a new, practical, necklace style solution to the problem.

 

Leap Motion technology is used to create a wearable sign language translator worn around the signers neck. The signer has a little screen on the piece that has an LED display where words appear. The technology tracks the wearers hand movements and translates them into words for the listener to read. Very similar to how subtitles work on TV. The pair of designers talk about it as a concept that translates their idea of a low-cost and attractive device that doesn’t get in the way but solves the problem many signers face every day.

 

 The product has been selected for the second phase of the TEDx Youth Competition in Sydney, where the winners get a mentor for three months to help them develop their idea. Hopefully it will get further and actually become a sold product.

 

Apparently there have been similar devices developed around the world. One such device is the EnableTalk which was developed in Ukraine and consists of sensor fitted gloves and software that converts the hand signals into speech in real time, as well as MyVoice which is a portable device that translates signing into audio messages, developed by students at the University of Houston.

 

I think there’s definitely a market out there for a product like this, what do you think?