AI-Powered Sign Language Avatar - DFA Digital for All
Our sign language avatar is featured in an article by the initiative “DFA - Digital for All”, which calls for strengthening digital skills and participation, promoting engagement, and making digitalization accessible to everyone.
Digitalization is increasingly shaping many areas of everyday life, and digital participation has become a central prerequisite for social inclusion. The goal is to use the opportunities of digitalization in such a way that all people can benefit equally.
Click here for the article by DFA (German):
https://digitaltag.eu/bewerbung/publikumspreis/kommunaler-gebaerdensprach-avatar-per-ki
Find our summary below:
The alangu GmbH and numerous cities, districts, municipalities, and counties in Germany are working with the sign language avatar to promote broader digital participation for Deaf people. In addition to its high level of innovation, the project promotes inclusion and the removal of barriers. Deaf and hearing employees are working together in an inclusive team.
Many people are not aware that written language is often like a foreign language for Deaf people and therefore only partially understandable.
In a digital society that is predominantly based on text and spoken language, this leads to significant obstacles for Deaf people. Access to digital information, services, and offerings is often difficult for them, even though it is essential for equal digital participation.
Sign language content is still rarely available. Moreover, the number of professional human sign language interpreters is not sufficient to cover the existing demand comprehensively. There is therefore a lack of supporting technical solutions.
Against this background, alangu, together with many German municipalities, initiated the sign language avatar. The goal is the AI-based translation of texts into Sign Language using a digital avatar, making municipal online services accessible without barriers.
The project idea originated from the research project AVASAG, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), and was implemented in close collaboration with the municipalities. The number of municipal contents is intended to increase continuously and to cover a wide range of services under the Online Access Act (Onlinezugangsgesetz, OZG).
With the further expansion of the AI-based translation platform, alangu also plans to explore additional areas of application. Deaf and hearing employees are already working closely together – the proportion of Deaf team members is expected to grow in the future (see Instagram).
The long-term goal is a user-friendly translation platform comparable to conventional translation tools, enabling comprehensive digital participation for Deaf people. In addition to its high innovation potential, the project makes an important contribution to inclusion.
Click here for the article by DFA (German):
https://digitaltag.eu/bewerbung/publikumspreis/kommunaler-gebaerdensprach-avatar-per-ki