Basically, a pair of robot hands on a little box next to your television. This device would convert the subtitle information now present on TV signals into sign language for those deaf viewers who prefer sign language to text subtitles.

Can also give massages.
-- hippo, Dec 04 2002

Robot hand for sign language http://www.sanbi.co.../Vol_7/Vol7_5e.html
mentioned here [hippo, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 06 2004]

Sign language translating gloves http://www.nih.gov/...19_2002/story01.htm
- this is clever [hippo, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 06 2004]

Deaf Sign Languages http://www2.vuw.ac.nz/llc/sign-links.html
From Around the World [Helium, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 06 2004]

Great idea. +

I'm just waiting for one so those hackers can start to scramble the signal to make them do rude signs at grandma.
-- PeterSilly, Dec 04 2002


As American Sign Language is used by people all around the world, how about a box that reads the closed captions on the TV and superimposes on the picture a computer-generated image of a sign interpreter?

<edit> upon further investigation, my statement that ASL was somewhat universal has been retracted. </edit>
-- Cedar Park, Jan 12 2003


American Sign Language is not used all around the world. My deaf auntie who travelled the world can attest to that. See Link.

Later: After further searching I found that there are a total of 103 sign languages around the world - even Mexican Deaf Sign Language is different to US.
-- Helium, Jan 12 2003


There needs to be some great deaf all-conquering Attaturkesque leader who unites all the deaf folks and creates an overarching deaf language. Think of the jobs it would create for deaf folks - any language could be converted into any other language via Deafsperonto. This is an idea in and of itself - I graciously cede it to someone else who wishes to develop it further and post it.

Now considering the evolution this particular idea has taken, it seems that a telletubby-type device would be what is needed - watch the TV in its gut while the tubby itself makes the hand signals.
-- bungston, Jan 12 2003


Ah - the "Tellytubby TV" - a marketing opportunity I'm surprised they haven't taken yet. Worthy of posting as a separate idea, I think. It would need an integrated Tivo-like device to repeat things you'd just watched (with some bits missed out) when you press the "Again, again!" button on the remote.
-- hippo, Jan 13 2003


Facial expressions are a large part of sign language, not just hands, so you'd need a fully articulated face.

It *does* seem odd that the Teletubby-TV doesn't exist, doesn't it?
-- DrBob, Jan 14 2003



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