Third International Symposium on Sign Language Translation and Avatar Technology

Recent research in the use of 3D virtual human characters, or avatars, to animate sign language promises to provide increased accessibility for deaf people via the Internet on a range of computing devices. In addition, avatars support sign linguistics research, providing a potential target for translation from spoken and other sign languages, and shedding light on human factors of sign language usage.

Two highly successful international workshops, held in Berlin and Dundee, brought together researchers in this emerging field. Submissions are invited for the 3rd International Symposium on Sign Language Translation and Avatar Technology (SLTAT) to be held at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, USA on October 18-19, 2013.

The symposium will focus on three main topics: symbolic translation of sign language, animation of sign language using avatars, and usability evaluation of practical translation and animation systems.

The format of the symposium will encourage discussion and collaboration between researchers. It is anticipated that we will have a mix of oral presentations as well as poster presentations covering active work and proposed research. There will be an opportunity for demonstration of current work and presentation of videos.

The symposium languages are English and International Sign, with interpretation between these two languages provided by the symposium. Participants who prefer to bring interpreters for their national sign language are kindly encouraged to do so and to contact the organizers in advance so we can plan accommodations accordingly.

Topics

SYMBOLIC TRANSLATION

a.. Lexicographic and linguistic approaches

b.. Use of corpora to inform translation

c.. Modelling of signing space for translation

d.. Handling of productive signs, classifier constructions, and constructed action

e.. Incorporation of non-manual features in production

f.. Consideration of emotional and prosodic aspects

AVATAR ANIMATION

a.. Requirements for signing avatar technology

b.. Linguistically-informed notations for gestural animation

c.. Use of corpora to inform animation

d.. Realistic animation of manual and bodily gestures

e.. Flexibility in animation of facial gestures and mouthing

USABILITY

a.. Evaluation results for practical translation systems

b.. Evaluation methodologies for signing translation systems

c.. Realism and acceptability of signing avatars

d.. Efficient content creation and editing tools for signing texts

Submission

Submissions will be via the conference Web site no later than 15 July 2013. All submissions will be peer-reviewed. Further details on submission and publication will be announced shortly.

For more information, or to be included on the mailing contact sltat@cs.depaul.edu.