Virtual sign animated pedagogic agents to support computer education for deaf learners

Abstract

In Thailand, there is a desperate need to improve the educational opportunities for deaf and hearing-impaired university-aged students. The research described herein is targeted at two aspects of this issue: 1) design and test a virtual sign animated instructional tool for the Thai sign language, and 2) investigate how instructors of university classes can most effectively teach deaf students and assess their performance, particularly by using this tool. Currently, I have completed a thorough review of the literature, constructed a 3-D human model that includes rudimentary facial expressions, and devised a framework to investigate the instructional process.