A new book, Sign Language Machine Translation, co-edited by Professor Andy Way, Principal Investigator at ADAPT, Professor Lorraine Leeson, Director of the Centre for Deaf Studies at Trinity College Dublin, and Dr Dimitar Shterionov, Assistant Professor in the Department of Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence at Tilburg University, consolidates key research and insights into this rapidly evolving field. Published by Springer, it marks the first book to explore the challenges and opportunities in the emerging field of Sign Language Machine Translation (SLMT).
The book gives an accessible introduction to the field followed by an in-depth exploration of the current state-of-the-art methods in SLMT. Key topics include a historical overview of SLMT, ethical issues in engaging with deaf users, the importance of data, sign language recognition and synthesis (including through avatars), and advanced models such as data-driven and linguistically-informed approach. It also examines practical aspects such as gloss translation, fingerspelling, and real-world applications of SLMT.
Designed for both developers in machine translation and those working in deaf studies, the book bridges technology and social sciences, presenting cutting-edge research to address communication barriers faced by deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.
Speaking about the publication Professor Andy Way said: “This book reflects the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and how collaboration across fields is necessary for the development of inclusive technologies.”
The book is available on Springer’s website.
