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Speech to Braille Computer Interpreter

One of the primary obstacles facing a deaf-blind student is the availability of interpreters. While interpreters are often available for formal classes, they are less likely to be provided for less structured learning situations like group study and informal discussion, or tutoring and mentoring. The limitation is the result of both the cost of an interpreter's time, and the general shortage of interpreters who work with deaf-blind students.

This project was begun as a student initiated research project conducted in the Idea Factory. The Idea Factory, an experimental undergraduate laboratory developed under the former NSF SEM project, is directed at promoting the involvement of students with disabilities in exploratory, inquiry-based learning. Two students, one who is deaf-blind, developed the conceptual design for a speech to Braille computer interpretation system. The design was awarded Honorable Mention in the 1997 RESNA Student Design Competition.

The project has been continued, with joint sponsorship from the new Information Access project and an Exploratory grant from the NSF Directorate of Computer and Information Science and Engineering. The implementation of the design will employ commercially available hardware and software, to allow two-way communication that can be used in the absence of an interpreter. Commercial speech recognition, speech synthesis, and Braille display are integrated with a personal computer.

More information can be obtained off the student website www.asel.udel.edu/gesture/SpchBrlle/.

Papers and Publications

1. "Development of a Computer-Based Interpretation System for Deaf-Blind Individuals", Caudill K, Finn B; RESNA 1997. HTML

Staff

[ Rick Foulds PhD., Principle Investigator ]
[ Anna Phalangas, Research Engineer ]

Student

[ Krista Caudill ]
[ Beth Finn ]