American Sign Language Translator using Convolutional Neural Networks

Abstract

The various methods humans have at their disposal to communicate with themselves is what sets them apart from the rest of the animal kingdom.  It is also an integral part in our daily lives and for the exchange of ideas.  Hence, the sign language holds just as much importance as any other language for the people with the gift of speech. People relying solely on sign language and people unable to interpret said language invariably get lost in translation. This leads to the creation of a communication gap which has ripple effects that hinder the progress of our society as a whole. The lack of a suitable communication platform makes any of the simple everyday activity unnecessarily difficult. The limitations placed on such people due to their inability to put for their thoughts and interpret others hamper their progress drastically. With this perspective, we set out to create a system that would help people translate the American Sign Language, be it out of necessity or passion.