James.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.org (James Womack) (04/04/91)
Index Number: 14624
[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
Introduction to Sign Language: An Interaction Approach. An interaction
approach was developed by Bloomsburg University's Department of Communication
Disorders and Special Education and the Institute for Interactive
A videoterminal-Mac computer link allows you to control your pace,
display laser generated sign language demonstrations and shows how
to make signs from side and front viewpoints.
Agency for Instructional Technology
Box A
Bloomingto, Indiana 47402-9973
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!300!14!James.Womack
Internet: James.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.orgCaren.Park@f71.n343.z1.fidonet.org (Caren Park) (04/11/91)
Index Number: 14741
[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
jack:
i have version 4 of Sign Friends, but have access to only LCD laptops
(running CGA) and networked PCs (with hercules monochrome), and the
resolution of sign friends on these machines isn't very good... i would
like to see SF on a VGA/EGA screen, but don't have access...
the program i was thinking about could be written on a NeXT machine
with a video grabber in a few days, with compilation of the database
inside a week or two (incorporating several THOUSAND
signs/concepts/phrases)... a 386 with VGA could do the same job, with
different software, of course, in months... why? because the databases
aren't readily available to handle video images without massive amounts
of disk space, and video resolutions of 1024x768 aren't affordable yet to
the mass market like hercules and 286s/808xs are... there's still a
priceyness to the 386 market that is starting to approach usability for
such a vertical market... i'm hoping to be ready with something LIKE
sign friends that uses the technology available when it becomes price-
competitive...
of course, this means i need to borrow a friend's machine when both of
us are available, OR (and this is a big one), i need to make lots more
money so i can afford that development platform... hoping to say, within
weeks, that i am the proud owner of etc etc etc... :)
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!343!71!Caren.Park
Internet: Caren.Park@f71.n343.z1.fidonet.orgJack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Jack O'keeffe) (04/11/91)
Index Number: 14748
[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
CP> the program i was thinking about could be written on a NeXT
CP> machine with a video grabber in a few days, with compilation
CP> of the database inside a week or two (incorporating several
CP> THOUSAND signs/concepts/phrases)...
A really interesting concept, Caren. But, at least for the present,
you would be addressing a miniscule market with a NeXT. And could
the videograbber deal with the animation so necessary with much of
ASL? Or would it be limited to freezeframe? (I'm asking - I don't
know.)
CP> a 386 with VGA could do the same job, with different software,
CP> of course, in months... why? because the databases aren't
CP> readily available to handle video images without massive amounts
CP> of disk space,
Hmmm. Why not optical disks for the media. The user wouldn't need to
write to them. But they would probably be too slow.
CP> and video resolutions of 1024x768 aren't affordable yet
Wouldn't standard VGA resolution be adequate? Would you need 1024x768?
And it's getting more affordable all the time.
CP> i'm hoping to be ready with something LIKE sign friends that
CP> uses the technology available when it becomes price-competitive
Like I told Fran, I can hardly wait to see SignFriends 2001 in full
living color 3-D animation on the new holographic monitor on my dream
machine! But I think Fran has done a truly remarkable job, with the
organization of her program, the stylized graphics and animation, and
keeping it all within bounds of affordable hardware that is accessible
to most everyone.
... Carpe Diem!
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!26!Jack.O'keeffe
Internet: Jack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.orgFran.O'gorman@f94.n272.z1.fidonet.org (Fran O'gorman) (04/11/91)
Index Number: 14756
[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
Hello Caren,
I knew that you had Sign Friends as you had sent to me
requesting a copy and I had shipped one out to you. The graphics
ARE quite simple. I have CGA here but have also seen them on VGA
which IS superior but have not noticed that great a difference.
Laptops with LCD would be different though and I have not seen
that.
My question is regarding your proposed project. Is that
interactive video you're talking about? My feeling was that Sign
Friends was an improvement over book format (although the art in
some books might be better than mine) because of the opportunity
to animate which a book lacks, and because of the interactive
nature of a tutorial type computer program. It is, I found out,
not the first such program, Microtech has a program that I believe
contains 2600 words/signs for the Apple however that program has a
price tag of $600, as I understand. Another program (similar to
mine but not animated) is Learn to Sign and that is shareware like
mine, but since it's more recent, it is considerably smaller, and
again, not animated.
Do you intend to market it commercially or offer it as
shareware, as I have? I applied some time ago for a grant (the
Christa McAuliffe grant) which would then make it freeware but I
am not overly confident about receiving it. NY state is cutting
the EIT (Excellence in Teaching) money and has dipped into the
teachers retirement funds so things are not good for education
here. The grant would've helped reimburse me for my expenses as
the registrations have not been forthcoming.
Please tell me more about your project. If it is as
accessible as mine, and can do it better, it could obviate the
need for me writing my program.
--Fran
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!272!94!Fran.O'gorman
Internet: Fran.O'gorman@f94.n272.z1.fidonet.orgScott.Gaul@f71.n343.z1.fidonet.org (Scott Gaul) (04/11/91)
Index Number: 14766
[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
I was very excited to see your message to Jack O'Keefe (#207) about
computer based training for Signing. I have been thinking about this
for a long time.
Here is how I would do it.
1. Use a video camera to record some one Signing.
2. Use a video capture card to capture the pictures (GIF) at 320x200 so they
can be seen on any VGA screen.
3. Use Animator (from Autodesk) to play back the images. Note: The images can
be still or animated at 30 frames per second on any VGA screen.
4. Use AAPlay also by Autodesk to play back images interactively.
The GIF files can be downsized considerably by redusing the number of colors
and the animation files work in a way that keep them relitvly small as well.
I have all the necessary equipment and software.
I would like to find out what you think of these ideas.
Scott Gaul
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Internet: Scott.Gaul@f71.n343.z1.fidonet.org