New Glove Speaks for the Deaf

Text messaging is changing the way that the world communicates. Now, innovative technology is allowing the deaf community to utilize text messaging. The HandTalk glove translates hand movements into text which can be sent via mobile phones. The glove, designed by inventors at Carnegie Mellon University, only translates a few dozen words so far, but researchers are working to increase that number.

The full article can be found here. Here are some excerpts: 

"The Handtalk glove senses the movements through the flexor pads which detect the different patterns of motion and the way the finger curls. The device can sense carefully each resistance and each movement made by the hand. Currently the device can convert only 32 words, but depending on the success of this device few more additional words may be added later onto this expressive system.

“That could be a big advantage” for hearing-impaired people, Mr. Bhat said. “It would cut out the need for an interpreter.”

The device works in a very interesting way. When it is first held in the fist it greets ‘Good Morning’ and when one extends the index finger, second finger and thumb, the device responds ‘I’m having a good time’ and hold out the index finger, little finger and thumb, The Handtalk glove will courteously respond as ‘Thank you for your time’. The inventors of this device give us a strong hope that this polite and humble invention can reach the hands of the needy as soon as possible."