SigningAvatar™

Internet Enabled 3D Characters
Assistive Technology & Educational Content

SigningAvatar™ software uses computer-generated, three dimensional (3D) characters called "avatars", to communicate in sign language with facial expressions.

SigningAvatar™ version 1.0, now shipping, has a vocabulary of over 3500 English words / concepts, 24 facial expressions, and will fingerspell words not in the sign vocabulary.

The user may select any one of seven avatars to sign in either Signed English (SE) or Pidgin Signed English (PSE), also called Conceptually Accurate Signed English (CASE). Some elements of American Sign Language (ASL) are provided and additional American Sign Language (ASL) grammar continues to be added.

The CD-ROM product has two primary applications. First, there is an Assistive Technology component  allowing users to view any SigningAvatar™ enabled website in sign language and with captions. Second, the software includes rich, accessible Educational Content, including: twelve children's stories, an illustrated sign dictionary, and interactive conversations and biographies for each avatar. Teacher support materials and technology integration ideas are also provided.

To use the Assistive Technology component to view enabled websites in sign language, users select an avatar and then log-on the Internet, going to http://www.signingavatar.com for links to enabled websites.

The opening Menu Page of the Educational Content (shown below) allows the user to select any of the five applications, read the directions, go online, or access family/teacher resources.

The image below shows the Signing Window used in all of the applications and on-line. The view control, to the lower left of the avatar, allows the user to turn the view of the avatar, and to move closer or farther away by clicking on the four arrows of the view control. At closest range, the window is filled by an image of the avatar from just below the waist to just above the head. Clicking the Home control returned the viewer to the starting or "home" position.The view control to the upper left allows the user to select a different background color.The upper right view control allows the user to select a different avatar.

The avatars are set to sign a little slower when demonstrating a sign in the dictionary, and a little faster when signing a story. However, the user can further speed up or slow down their signing using the speed control. The range is from an average of one sign per second to about five signs per second. Of course, there is substantial variation in length among the signs.

The user can change viewing position or speed at any time while using SigningAvatar™ characters. View controls operate immediately.

In addition to the content pages for learners (of all ages), there is a Resources section for educators and/or families. The resources section has suggested educational activities, ideas for integrating technology into learning, and the images for each story as black and white reproducable pages. Shown below are the images from the "Bob the Bear" story. The first image is a black and white copy matching the color version on the story page. The second image is a "What's Wrong in the Picture?" version from the story.

The following links provide images and descriptions for each section of educational content of the  SigningAvatar™ CD-ROM.

Introductions                                      Children's Stories

Conversations                                      Avatar Biographies

Illustrated Dictionaries

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