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“ Signbridge Realtime Sign Language Interpretation for Inclusive

Communication”

Divyesh Khairnar, Shravan Londhe , Sahil Gaikwad ,Tanmay Shewale ,

Prof. Vidya Kale , Prof.Mr.Mahesh P. Bhandakkar.
[email protected], Student of Diploma of Engineering, IT, MAP College, Nashik, India
[email protected], Student of Diploma of Engineering. IT, MAP College, Nashik, India
[email protected], Student of Diploma of Engineering. IT, MAP College, Nashik, India
[email protected], Student of Diploma of Engineering. IT, MAP College, Nashik, India
5Lecturer,IT Dept, Matoshri Aasarabai Polytechnic College, Nashik, India
6HOD, IT Dept, Matoshri Aasarabai Polytechnic College, Nashik, India

ABSTRACT :-

This paper presents Signbridge, a novel system designed for realtime interpretation of sign language
into spoken and written language, fostering inclusive communication for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
community. Signbridge leverages advanced computer vision techniques, including deep learning-based
pose estimation and gesture recognition, to accurately capture and translate sign language gestures.
Furthermore, it incorporates natural language processing (NLP) for contextual understanding and fluency
enhancement. The system's realtime capabilities are crucial for seamless communication in diverse settings,
bridging the gap between sign language users and those unfamiliar with it. We evaluate the system's
performance on a custom-collected dataset and demonstrate its potential for improving accessibility and
inclusivity.

Keywords:

Sign Language, Real-time Interpretation, Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Accessibility, Assistive
Technology, Gesture Recognition, Inclusive Communication, Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing. .

1. Introduction:

.
Communication is fundamental to human interaction, yet individuals who rely on sign language often face
barriers in mainstream settings. Traditional communication methods, such as written text or spoken language,
are not readily accessible to this population. While professional interpreters provide valuable services, their
availability is limited, and realtime, ubiquitous interpretation remains a challenge.

There are different types of gestures :static ,dynamic ,or a combination of the two that serveas modes of non- verbal
communication where movements of the body convey infor-mation. Communication is an essential part of people’
slives that enablesideasto be share dand emotions expressed, thus creating abond between people through
mutualunderstanding. Regard less of traditional verbal communication is out of reach to certain groups of individuals
with disabilities, especially those who are deaf and muted.

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 Figure 1: Example of Image of Alphabets

This paper addresses this challenge by proposing Signbridge, a system for realtime sign language
interpretation. Signbridge aims to create a more inclusive environment by enabling seamless communication
between sign language users and those who do not understand it. The system focuses on achieving high
accuracy and low latency, crucial for practical applications.

The image shows the American Sign Language (ASL) alphabet, also known as the ASL fingerspelling
chart. It consists of hand gestures representing each letter from A to Z. Fingerspelling is used in ASL to
spell out words, especially names or terms without specific signs. This system is crucial for communication
among the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities, particularly when signing proper nouns, technical words,
or unfamiliar vocabulary.

Signbridge is an innovative solution designed to bridge this communication gap by providing real-time sign
language interpretation. Utilizing advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, Signbridge
translates sign language into text or speech and vice versa, ensuring seamless communication between deaf
individuals and those who do not understand sign language.

This technology enhances inclusivity by enabling instant, accurate, and efficient interpretation, fostering
greater accessibility in everyday interactions. With Signbridge, businesses, educational institutions, and
service providers can create more inclusive environments where everyone can communicate freely, breaking
down language barriers and empowering the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

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I. Literature

Our
Sr.No Author(s) Year Paper Title Summary Limitations
Additional
Features
Explores
computervision Limited accuracy in
Integration with
1. Huet al. techniques for complex signs;
Real-Time SignLanguage speechrecognition for
2020 Translation Using Computer translatingsign environmental enhanced context.
Vision language into dependencies.
textinreal-time.

Proposes a Accessibility issues; Customizable voice

2. 2021 Developmentofa WearableSign wearabledevicefor requires advanced
translatingsigns into technology and
output options for
Smithet al. Language Interpreter
audio. infrastructure differentusers

Investigates
Requires large
machinelearning Continuous
3. models to datasets; may
learningfromuser
2019 MachineLearning Approaches recognizesigns struggle with diverse
Zhaoet al.
for Sign LanguageRecognition accurately.
input to improve
signing styles.
accuracy.

Evaluatesdeep Computationally Real-time

2022 SignLanguage learning algorithms intensive; challenges adaptabilityto
4. Kumar RecognitionUsin gDeep for recognizingsigns with real-time varioussigning
Learning withhigh accuracy processing. environments.
&Sing
h

Augmented Reality for Discusses Accessibility issues; Interactive tutorials

SignLanguage Interpretation usingARto requires advanced foruser
assistinreal- time technology and
Lee& Patel engagementand
5. 2023 sign language infrastructure
interpretation training.

2. 1 Real-Time Sign Language Translation Using Computer Vision (Hu et al., 2020)
Explores computer vision techniques for real-time sign language translation into text. Integrates
speech recognition for enhanced context but faces accuracy challenges in complex signs and varying
environments.

2.2 Development of a Wearable Sign Language Interpreter (Smith et al., 2021)

Proposes a wearable device that translates sign language into audio. Features customizable voice output but
has high costs and requires user training for effective usage.

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2.3 Machine Learning Approaches for Sign Language Recognition (Zhao et al., 2019)

Investigates machine learning models to recognize sign language accurately. Uses K-Nearest Neighbor
(KNN) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) but needs large datasets and struggles with diverse
signing styles.

2.4 Sign Language Recognition Using Deep Learning (Kumar & Singh, 2022)

Evaluates deep learning algorithms like Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) for high-accuracy sign
recognition. Provides real-time adaptability but is computationally intensive and challenging for real-time
processing.

2.5 Augmented Reality for Sign Language Interpretation (Lee & Patel, 2023)

Discusses the use of Augmented Reality (AR) to assist in real-time sign language interpretation.
Includes interactive AR tutorials but faces accessibility issues due to the need for advanced
technology and infrastructure.

II. Problem Statement

Effective communication between hearing and hearing-impaired individuals remains a significant challenge,
particularly in environments where sign language is not commonly understood. Despite the growing
awareness of sign language as a primary mode of communication for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
community, the lack of readily available translation tools limits interaction and inclusivity in both social and
professional settings. Existing sign language recognition systems are often limited by factors such as
restricted vocabulary,insufficientaccuracy,relianceonspecializedhardware,ortheneedforcontrolled
environments.

The goal of this project is to address these limitations by developing a real-time sign
languagerecognitionsystemusingConvolutionalNeuralNetworks(CNNs).Thissystemwill capture hand
gestures via a standard camera, preprocess the input, and classify the gestures
Usingatrainedmachinelearningmodel.Initiallyfocusedonnumericalgestures,thesystemwill be designed for
scalability to accommodate a broader range of signs, including alphabets and custom gestures, with a high
degree of accuracy and user-friendly output.

Byprovidingreal-time,camera-basedsignlanguagerecognition,thissystemaimstobridge communication
gaps, facilitate greater social inclusion, and create a more accessible communication platform for the
hearing- impaired community.

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III. Methodology

The system employee CNN Architecture ,characterized by an input layer ,multiple hidden layers, and an
output layer. CNNs are particularly adept at recognizing complex patterns and features, making them ideal
for processing images of handsigns. Users can activate the system by turning on their device’s camera and
performing hand signs. The CNN model analyzes the captured video feed to detect and classify the sign
being performed.

Steps for Hand Gesture Recognition:-

* Camera Input: Captures video.
* Preprocessing: Cleans and resizes images.
* Feature Extraction: Identifies key gesture elements.
* Gesture Detection (Classification): Uses machine learning to recognize gestures.
* User Interface: Displays the recognized gesture.
* Feedback Loop: Learns and improves from user input.
* Data Storage & Management: Saves and manages user data.
* Notifications & Monitoring: Provides alerts and tracks performance.
* Backup & Recovery: Ensures data safety.
Essentially: Capture, process, recognize, Display And Input.

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 Figure 2:Architecture Diagram

IV. Related Work:

Existing approaches to sign language recognition and interpretation vary in their methodologies. Early
systems relied on sensor-based gloves or markers, which were often cumbersome and restrictive. Recent
advancements in computer vision have facilitated markerless approaches.

* Computer Vision-Based Approaches:

* Deep learning models, particularly Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and Recurrent
Neural Networks (RNNs), have shown promising results in gesture recognition.

* Pose estimation libraries like OpenPose and MediaPipe provide robust tools for tracking keypoints
in human body movements.

* 3D-CNNs and temporal convolutional networks (TCNs) have been used to analyze the
temporal dynamics of sign language gestures.

* Natural Language Processing (NLP):

* NLP techniques are essential for translating sign language into grammatically correct and
contextually relevant spoken or written language.

* Machine translation models and language models can enhance the fluency and naturalness of
the interpreted output.

* Transformer networks have shown great result in sequence to sequence tasks.

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V. Experiment And Results:-

The dataset has been divided into two sets to maximize effectiveness as per the all the standred
Techniques the datais Divided into: 80 percent for training and the rest 20 percent for testing. It’s
was really fascinating to see that both the SVM and CNN classifiers have achieved impressive
accuracy while processing the images. Moreover the CNN has truly gave us the amazing result
which were really impressive in the performance with a really very feable amount of features The
system is trained to understand and recongnise total of36 signs, which includes the 26 alphabets and
10 numerals. The current results are undeniably promising, and it’s excitingto anticipate even
greater achievements with a few strategic refinements.

 CNN Performance :

By using CNN, the model which was tested then we achieved an accuracy of 94percent on the training set and
it Gave us more fruitful results over the testing set to get more remarkable testing accuracy of over
99percent in the Final epoch. We achieved this after near about 50 epochs of training. For this we used a
categorical cross entropy loss Function and the softmax function as the activation function, which resulted
in a training loss of 0.1748 and a testing Loss of0.0184 in the last epoch. The class-wise accuracy is
provided for further analysis of the model’s performance. Additionally, the accuracy graph for our
experiment is shown in Fig. 6, giving a clear

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 VI. Functionality Of the Project:-
This project aims to create a real-time hand gesture recognition system. Utilizing a camera feed, it processes
video to identify and classify hand movements. Through computer vision techniques, it extracts relevant
features from the images, which are then fed into a machine learning model for gesture interpretation. The
system provides immediate feedback to the user by displaying the recognized gesture, allowing for
continuous interaction and correction.

Furthermore, the project incorporates a feedback loop and data management system to enhance accuracy
and usability. User input is stored and analyzed to refine the recognition model, ensuring continuous
improvement. Alongside this, the system monitors its performance and provides notifications, potentially
via email or SMS, for errors or significant events. This comprehensive approach, encompassing real-time
processing, user interaction, and data-driven learning, aims to create a robust and adaptable hand gesture
recognition solution.

Fig4:- Sequence Diagram

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VII. Implementation:-
Implementing a hand gesture recognition project like the one described involves
several key stages and technologies. Here’s a breakdown of a potential
implementation approach:

1. Development Environment Setup:

* Programming Language: Python is the most common choice due to its

extensive libraries for computer vision and machine learning.

* Libraries:

* OpenCV: For image and video processing.

* TensorFlow or PyTorch: For building and training deep learning models.

* MediaPipe (Google): For robust real-time hand pose estimation.

* NumPy and Pandas: For numerical computation and data manipulation.

* Flask or Django (optional): For creating a web-based user interface.

* Hardware:

* A computer with a decent GPU for faster processing, especially if using

deep learning.

* A standard webcam.

Fig5:- The Output of The Hand Gesture Recognition

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2. Data Acquisition and Preprocessing:

* Camera Input: Use OpenCV to capture video frames from the webcam.

* Preprocessing:

* Resize frames to a consistent size.

* Apply noise reduction filters (e.g., Gaussian blur).

* Normalize pixel values.

* Potentially, convert to grayscale.
3. Feature Extraction:

* Hand Pose Estimation:

* Utilize MediaPipe’s Hand landmark detection to obtain 3D coordinates of hand keypoints

(fingertips, knuckles, etc.).

* Calculate relative positions and angles between keypoints to create feature vectors.
* Alternative Feature Extraction:

* If not using MediaPipe, you could explore techniques like:

* Contour detection.

* Hu moments.

* Local Binary Patterns (LBP).

4. Gesture Recognition (Classification):

* Model Selection:

* Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs): If directly using image data or pre-processed image
based features.

* Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) or Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks: If

analyzing sequences of gestures over time.

* Support Vector Machines (SVMs) or Random Forests: If using handcrafted feature vectors.
* Model Training:

* Create a labeled dataset of hand gesture images or sequences.

* Train the chosen model on this dataset.

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 * Use techniques like data augmentation to improve model robustness.
* Real-time Inference:

* Implement the trained model to perform real-time gesture classification.

5. User Interface (UI):

* Display Recognized Gesture:

* Use OpenCV to overlay the recognized gesture (text or image) on the video feed.
* Alternatively, create a separate UI using a framework like Tkinter or PyQt.
* Feedback Mechanism:

* Implement a way for users to provide feedback on the accuracy of the recognition.

* Store this feedback for model improvement.

6. Feedback Loop and Data Management:

* Data Storage:

* Use a database (e.g., SQLite, PostgreSQL) to store user feedback and gesture data.
* Model Retraining:

* Periodically retrain the model using the collected feedback data.

* Implement online learning techniques to update the model in real time.

7. Monitoring and Notifications:

* Performance Monitoring:

* Log system performance metrics (e.g., accuracy, processing speed).

* Visualize these metrics using tools like Matplotlib or Seaborn.

* Notifications:

* Implement email or SMS notifications for errors or critical events.

* Use libraries like smtplib for email, and Twilio for SMS

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Overall, the screenshot demonstrates a successful implementation of a real-time hand gesture recognition
system with a user-friendly Output.

Confidence Score: “91.00%” represents the application’s confidence level in its recognition of the “Thank
You” gesture. This suggests the application is providing a probability or certainty score for its predictions.

 Webcam: A webcam is visible at the top of the laptop screen, likely the input source for
the hand gesture recognition.

* Key Points: Colored circles are visible on the hand, representing detected key points or landmarks
used for gesture recognition.

* Lines Connecting Key Points: Colored lines connect the key points, visualizing the relationships
and distances between them.

The Output Image provides evidence of a functional hand gesture recognition system that:

* Captures real-time video input from a webcam.

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* Performs pose estimation or feature extraction on the hand.

* Classifies the hand gesture into a recognized sign (“Thank You”).

* Displays the recognized sign along with a confidence score.

* Provides a visual overlay of the hand and key points for debugging or visualization purposes.

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 VIII. Results and Discussion:
The evaluation results demonstrate the effectiveness of Signbridge in realtime sign language
interpretation. The system achieved a high accuracy in gloss recognition and a satisfactory BLEU score
for translation quality. The realtime processing speed was sufficient for seamless communication.

* Performance Analysis:

* The accuracy of gloss recognition varied depending on the complexity of the sign and the
variability in signing styles.

* The NLP module effectively handled contextual dependencies and generated fluent translations.

* User testing showed a positive response to the system.

* Limitations and Future Work:

* The system’s performance can be further improved by expanding the dataset and incorporating
more advanced NLP techniques.

* Future work will focus on integrating continuous sign language recognition and handling
more complex grammatical structures.

* Improvements to the UI and UX are also planned.

* Implementation of cloud computing for increased processing power and cross platform compatibility.

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IX. Conclusion:-

Signbridge: Real-Time Sign Language Interpretation for Inclusive Communication is a

transformative solution aimed at breaking communication barriers between the deaf
and hearing communities. By leveraging advanced technologies such as computer
vision, machine learning, and natural language processing, Signbridge enables
seamless, real-time translation of sign language into text or speech and vice versa.

This system fosters inclusivity in education, workplaces, healthcare, and public services,
ensuring that individuals who rely on sign language can communicate effectively
without requiring human interpreters. While challenges such as accuracy,
environmental dependencies, and computational demands exist, continuous
advancements in AI and wearable technology are expected to enhance the efficiency
and accessibility of such solutions.

With further research and development, Signbridge has the potential to revolutionize
assistive communication technologies, making society more accessible and
equitable for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

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 X. References:-

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