SignCraft : A real-time Sign Language Translation
Ravikrishna Jayaprakash
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- 0 Collaborators
SignCraft: Sign Language Gesture Translator uses MediaPipe and Intel's oneAPI platform for real-time translation of sign language gestures. It bridges communication gaps by capturing and interpreting gestures, enabling effective communication between sign language and non-sign language users. ...learn more
Project status: Under Development
oneAPI, Artificial Intelligence
Overview / Usage
Breaking Down Walls: Intel's Sign Language Gesture TranslatorImagine a world where communication transcends spoken language. This vision becomes closer to reality with Intel's innovative Sign Language Gesture Translator. This project tackles the challenge of bridging the gap between sign language users and those who primarily rely on spoken language.
The translator leverages the power of Intel's oneAPI platform, a toolkit for developing software across various computing hardware. Combined with MediaPipe, a framework for building real-time multimedia processing pipelines, it creates a powerful engine for sign language interpretation.
Here's how it works: a camera captures video of the signer's hand gestures. Advanced computer vision techniques, like those used in facial recognition, then come into play. The system analyzes the video frame by frame, identifying and tracking the movements of the signer's hands.
However, recognizing gestures isn't enough for meaningful translation. This is where machine learning takes center stage. The translator relies on pre-trained models – essentially computer programs that have "learned" to recognize and classify different sign language gestures based on vast datasets of sign language data.
By linking these recognized gestures to their corresponding spoken words or textual representations, the translator bridges the communication gap. This allows for seamless two-way communication between sign language users and individuals who don't use sign language.
The impact of this technology extends far beyond facilitating conversations. It empowers individuals with hearing impairments, fostering greater inclusion and participation in social and professional settings.
Intel's Sign Language Gesture Translator is a testament to the power of combining advanced technology and artificial intelligence for social good. As the project continues to evolve, it has the potential to revolutionize communication, creating a more inclusive and connected world.
Methodology / Approach
A project like the Intel Sign Language Gesture Translator utilizes a combination of technologies to achieve real-time translation. Here's a breakdown of the potential methodology:
1. Data Acquisition and Preprocessing:
- Data Collection: A large dataset of video recordings featuring diverse sign language gestures from various individuals would be essential. This data would need to be labeled with the corresponding spoken words or textual representations for each gesture.
2. Preprocessing and Feature Extraction:
- MediaPipe: This framework could be used for video processing tasks. It can handle frame extraction, hand segmentation (isolating hands from the background), and keypoint detection (identifying key points on the hands like fingertips).
- OpenCV (Optional): OpenCV functions might be used for additional image processing or feature extraction techniques to enrich the data further.
3. Machine Learning Model Development:
- TensorFlow or Keras: These libraries would be ideal for building and training the core machine learning model. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are a strong candidate for this task as they excel in image recognition and classification. The model would be trained on the preprocessed video data, learning to associate specific hand configurations and movements with their corresponding sign language meanings.
4. Hardware Acceleration (Optional):
- Intel oneAPI Base Toolkit: This toolkit can be leveraged to optimize the machine learning model for performance across various hardware platforms, such as CPUs, GPUs, or FPGAs. This acceleration can significantly improve real-time translation speed.
5. Integration and Implementation:
- Jupyter Lab (Intel oneAPI 2024 Kernal): This environment would be valuable for development, testing, and iteratively improving the model.
- Software Development Kit (SDK): Once the model is trained and optimized, an SDK can be developed to integrate the translator functionality into a mobile application or software program. This SDK would handle capturing video input, feeding it to the trained model, and displaying the translated output (spoken words or text).
Standards and Techniques:
- Machine Learning Frameworks: TensorFlow/Keras follow best practices for building and training neural networks.
- Data Preprocessing: Techniques like normalization and augmentation would likely be used to improve the model's generalization capabilities.
- Evaluation Metrics: Accuracy, precision, and recall would be crucial metrics to evaluate the model's performance and identify areas for improvement.
Technologies Used
- Intel OneAPI Base Toolkit
- Jupyter Lab ( Intel oneAPI 2024 ) Kernal
- MediaPipe
- TensorFlow
- Keras
- openCV