3D signing avatar for Sinhala Sign language

Abstract

A sign language possesses multi-posture and single posture signs that require animation of bones on demand in a 3D signing avatar. Fingerprinting is used for representing unknown words character by character. Ordering and sequencing of signs corresponding to the words/phrases of a natural language are the most essential features of animating a sign language. This paper presents a multi-facet 3D avatar and an animation system for Sinhala Sign language (SSL) which supports the definition and animation of sign gestures without video sequencing or motion capture hardware. The animation system animates upper body of the avatar and consists of 29 bones per arm. Speed and uniformity of the sign gesture animation is achieved by automatically calculating the intermediate and transitional sequences of arm movements of signs within a given number of frames, or with a user defined displacement value per bone. Avatar animation system also supports the definition of fingerprinting signs, with a user defined tag set corresponding to the alphabet of any given sign language. Presented prototype consists of 200 known signs and 40 fingerprinting signs of SSL defined in its sign database and having the capability of animating any sentence in Sinhala language in SSL.