Accessible Sign Language to Speech App for Inclusive Communication

Objective: To empower speech-impaired individuals in underserved Indian communities with real-time sign language to speech translation for improved accessibility.

Millions of speech-impaired individuals in India, especially in rural and low-income urban communities, face daily barriers in communicating with others who do not understand sign language. This impacts their access to healthcare, education, employment, and essential services, perpetuating social and economic inequalities. The project addresses SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by focusing on accessibility for marginalized groups.

The solution is a low-cost mobile application that translates Indian Sign Language (ISL) gestures into spoken language in real-time. Using computer vision and machine learning, the app will recognize signs from the camera and convert them to audio, enabling speech-impaired users to interact seamlessly with non-signers. The approach is tailored for accessibility and offline usability, supporting local languages.

Key features include: ISL gesture recognition using open datasets, multilingual speech output, customizable user profiles, offline mode for low-connectivity areas, and an intuitive interface for users with different abilities. The working prototype will be tested with actual beneficiaries and incorporate feedback from speech-impaired individuals, educators, and caregivers.

Measurable impact will be tracked via pilot deployments, user surveys, and communication success rates. The solution can scale by partnering with NGOs, schools for the differently-abled, and community health centers, promoting inclusive communication across India.