A Glove That Speaks – Bye Bye Sign Language?
A team at the University of British Columbia have designed a glove that related its position in the 3D world and produces a sound associated with that position. Each of the two gloves (assuming you still have 2 hands) has a different role, with one creating vowels with an open hand motion, while closing the glove can change the pitch. Essentially, it’s a gesture to voice synthesizer.
The present purpose of the glove is to allow soloists to duet with themselves – there’s got to be an easier way, no? – but they are also finding that the device could be used to help the deaf. Wait, how can they hear it? Oh, they would use it to communicate with the non-deaf – got it. This could be revolutionary for communication for the deaf, and would mean ignorant people like me who do not know sign language can just listen to the glove say its robotic letters.
Watch a video of the process below, including a snippet of a soloist doing a duet with the glove (which might be a tiny bit bizarre).
