casl report1

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ConferenceASL (CASL)

REPORT 1 May 2013

Sarge Salman [email protected]


INTRODUCTION During 2012, over 2,700 TEDx conferences were organized worldwide. Providing a technology platform to share the TEDx experience with American Sign Language (ASL) users in real-‐time would augment both communities. Project CASL (Conference ASL) was initiated to rely on widespread technology to craft a solution providing remote viewers a real-‐time web-‐based simultaneous ASL interpretation (right) of TEDx livestreams (left):

Subsequently, the technology will be deployed for deaf TEDx attendees, offering a real-‐time web-‐based simultaneous ASL interpretation of TEDx speakers on a smartphone.

Introduction to Project CASL by Rebecca Minor: http://goo.gl/hbMqs


DEMONSTRATION SETUP The inaugural CASL test was undertaken on Friday May 3 during Session1 of TEDxDelrayBeach with two interpretation teams:

NYC (Offices of TLC Labs): Baltimore (UMBC campus): • Chris Tester • Natalie Atlas

• Rebecca Minor PhD • Pam Kraemer • Laura Wickless

The viewer interface is comprised of two video streams. The conference stream (CS) is a live video capture of the TEDx stage made available by conference organizers for free to Internet viewers. The interpreter stream (IS), provided by us, is a live video capture of ASL signs from a remote interpreter watching the CS.

CS: Video feed on livestream.com website IS: Google Hangout On Air (GHOA) publishes interpreter video on YouTube

Palm Beach, FL

Everywhere!

NYC/Baltimore

Interpreter

webcam

CS CS

IS


DEMONSTRATION RESULTS CASL videos of TEDxDelrayBeach: www.youtube.com/user/ConferenceASL/ Lag time, the delay between TEDxDelrayBeach speaker (CS) and the corresponding interpretation (IS), was measured on viewer computers at both interpretation sites. NYC, 6-‐11 sec; Baltimore, 52-‐60 sec. NYC Analytics


VIEWER FEEDBACK Survey results from 17 viewers


CONCLUSION We have validated the browser interface as a viable platform. The interpreter community is eager to participate and contribute to the development of CASL. And the CASL experience was well-‐received by ASL viewers. Next steps:

• Eliminate Conference Stream-‐Interpreter Stream lag • Establish a uniform experience of CS and IS streams for all viewers • Expand outreach to deaf community and expand TEDx awareness • Grow interpreter roster through recruitment


FAQ How many deaf people are there in the United States? Given that deaf people, as deaf people, have not been counted in the U.S. Census since 1930, deaf statistics are estimates. A 2012 study suggests:

http://www.ntid.rit.edu/sites/default/files/number_of_persons_who_are_deaf_or_hard_of_hearing.pdf How Many People Use ASL in the United States? Given the lack of census data, estimates range from 500,000 to 2 million. http://libguides.gallaudet.edu/content.php?pid=114804&sid=991835 How many ASL interpreters are there in the US? The National Association for the Deaf (NAD) and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) jointly certify interpreters. RID recognizes more than 9,400 certified interpreters. http://www.rid.org/userfiles/File/pdfs/About_RID/RIDFY2011AnnualReport.pdf


GLOSSARY http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/idcplg?IdcService=GET_DYNAMIC_CONVERSION&dID=152685 American Sign Language (ASL) – ASL is the natural, visual language of people who are deaf. ASL has its own syntax and grammatical structure and is one of the most commonly used foreign languages in the U.S. Deaf – Having a hearing loss of such severity that communication and learning is primarily by visual methods (i.e., manual communication, writing, speechreading, and gestures). Hard of hearing – Having some degree of hearing loss ranging from mild to profound. People who are hard of hearing may benefit from the use of hearing aids or other assistive listening devices. They depend primarily upon spoken English in communicating with others. Interpreter – A sign language interpreter facilitates communication between people who are deaf and hearing by signing what is said and speaking what is signed.


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Natalie Atlas Pam Kraemer Rebecca Minor PhD Denise Perdue Chris Tester Laura Wickless Becky Woodbridge TEDxDelrayBeach TLC Labs UMBC Student Support Services

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