Better news windows?

I was pleased to have noticed that one of the local-private TV stations have enlarged the window for the sign-language reporter during the news (5pm) broadcast. It now takes up half the screen! This is much better compared to the “thumbnail window” they used to have. The only draw back is that the sign-language reporter disappears regularly and is not substituted with subtitles. Kind of defeats the purpose if you ask me. I understand if they haven’t the time to subtitle hot news that comes in… but at least keep the sign-language reporter on screen and interpret live!

Unions have been fighting for better news broadcasting for the deaf for a while now. Here’s an article “Request for better news in sign-language” (31 March 2006)

CyTA (Cyprus Telecommunication Authority) says that “the situation will improve with the future introduction of digital television”. Hang on a minute! They’re already broadcasting programs over MiVision – “carries digital sound and vision through a telephone line and delivers it through a Set-Top Box to the customer’s TV.”

Now, since everything is in place, would someone please tell me how difficult is it to start a local Deaf Channel?

Deaf Soap Opera?

Local soap operas are very popular here. Not that I pay attention, but I do know they have substantial ratings compared to other programmes; either local or international.
Here’s a thought, wouldn’t it be interesting if one or more actors in a particular show were deaf characters? Wouldn’t this raise awareness about deaf culture in Cyprus? I'd imagine it would make an interesting series. I might even tune in!

Films on the Deaf in Cyprus

I completely forgot to mention that while I was working for
Intercollege’s TV & Radio Unit (academic/commercial TV & Audio production studio in Nicosia) I was the primary camera operator for a series of videos that were produced for the deaf community (4 in total). I must find out how these videos were distributed.
Below is some info along with screen grabs of each production.

This educational series explores the issue of hearing loss in children. It will be useful for any and all persons who come into contact with the hearing impaired children. The series consists of four films covering the following topics:

Your Deaf Child – Myth and Reality

Introductory film. Useful information for parents who have just learnt that their child has a hearing impairment.

Mainstreaming hearing impaired students in the Cypriot educational system

Useful information for classroom teachers who have hearing impaired students in their classes.

Hearing loss and technology

How technology and medical science can assist individuals with hearing impairments.

Communication methods

Available choices in communication and educational approaches for hearing impaired children.


Coordinator: Pancyprian Parents Association of Hearing Impaired Children
Producer: Intercollege TV & Radio Unit
Director: George Sycallides
Sponsor: United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)

For more info call +357 99 875342, +357 99 631289

Caroline says...

Exclusively Caroline says,

… in Scandinavians countries sign language was recognised as an official language at least two decades ago - which means the resources were available for parents of young deaf children. Free sign language classes were available and the majority of hearing people in countries such as Finland or Sweden are very deaf aware. At the same time, employment prospects for deaf and hard of hearing people in Europe are pretty poor. This differs from country to country…

Two UK Deaf Documentaries

I met UK Producer/Director Rosa Rogers at EsoDoc (3week Social Documentary Workshop). Two of her documentaries truly inspired me. "Dragon People" follows a young photographer through China and the second one "The Greatest Show on Earth" introduces viewers to the wonderful world of samba dancing. What makes these documentaries special is that all the characters are deaf. Fantastic!

DRAGON PEOPLE (2006)

Photographer Louise Gibson goes on a journey through modern China, entering the world of China’s 20m ‘Dragon People’. In Beijing she meets state workers fearful for their future, older people reflecting on changes over the last 25 years and young people left out of the economic boom. In rural China she discovers how different life is to China’s fast growing ‘super cities’. A portrait of life in China as it heads towards becoming the most powerful economy in the world.

THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH (2006)

25 year old Nana Twum Danso loves to dance. It’s how she expresses herself and makes her feel free. Profoundly deaf since birth, Nana feels music rather than hearing it – “I feel it tingling on my skin.. it’s like an angel, lifting me”. We follow Nana on the challenge of a lifetime - to learn samba, one of the fastest dances in the world, and perform in the Rio Carnival. Put amongst some of Rio’s top dancers, with just a week to learn, will she make it through?

Both of these documentaries were broadcasted on VEE-TV - Channel 4's magazine programme for young deaf people.

Check out more of Rosa's work on her website http://www.rosarogers.co.uk

Greek Sign Language dictionary

NOEMA - a dictionary of the Greek Sign Language (GSL) consists of the first electronic dictionary of Greek signs. It contains 3,000 video recorded signs with their Modern Greek translations and is equally addressed to native signers as well as to hearing students of GSL. Read more

Here's the online demo

YouSign on YouTube

This is cool. Pad is learning British Sign Language and is using YouTube for training. I think it's a great way to monitor your progress

This is what she is saying in the video below (from her blog)

Hello!
This week in sign class, I learned feelings. *run through all feelings on worksheet* On Tuesday, I made soup. Lentils, carrots and potatoes. I like making soup. On Thursday, I went to the dentist. She poked and prodded in their and now I have toothache. I go again next Thursday. My boyfriend bought me new trousers. *shows*. I love them. My interent journal is at blackshuck.livejournal.com. I'll see you later!

1, 2, 3 Sign!

While brainstorming with Thomas Righetti at the final EsoDoc session in Trento (Italy) about an idea that was stuck in my head, we came up with some interesting ideas about creating online solutions for the deaf. Below is one idea I'd like to develop. Thank you Thomas for your input!
(feel free to leave your comments)

--------------

“1, 2, 3 SIGN”


The Cyprus Deaf Community have created a thick bubble around their experiences. For this very reason there are destructive internal battles between all of the people inside this region. As a consequence, the hearing community does not know of their existence except through the Sign translators for the afternoon news who are not Deaf.

“Air” needs to be allowed into this “bubble” and vice versa. “1, 2, 3 SIGN” is an online project that attempts to spark an online interaction encouraging to bridge the gap between the two communities and further intice communication.

“1, 2, 3 SIGN” is an online amplet that generates short sentences in Cypriot Sign Langauage. A simple yet fun way for the hearing to learn short phrases. Unlike many online Sign Langauage Dictionaries they only associate with single words, “1, 2, 3 SIGN” encourages users to learn short phrases.

The user is presented with a video screen and three drop down menus below it. Users select desired words from the menu to create a phrase, then click on “play”, a video is loaded where a person interprets the chosen phrase into Cypriot Sign Langauage. Such phrases may be: “I am hungry”, “She wants a glass of wine”, “We are very excited to be here”, etc.

Working with a small group of (3-5) youngsters from the deaf community over the course of 2-3 weeks. Participants will develop the phrases and collect the words for interpretation before a camera and upload if onto the amplet. The project also introduces various online interactove tools. Along with developing the “1, 2, 3 SIGN” amplet, the following Web2 tools will be introduced:

YouTube – a popular free video sharing web site which lets users upload, view, and share video clips.

Flikr - a photo sharing website and web services suite, and an online community platform.

MySpace - a social networking website offering an interactive, user-submitted network of friends, personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music, and videos.

Blog - a website where entries are made in journal style and displayed in a reverse chronological order.

Web access, video camera, webcam, computers, photocamera, moblie phone with video camera features will be some of the tools that will be required to run the project. Participants require general knowledge of the web.

Links

Here are some interesting links regarding interactive online sign language solutions.


Bristol Uninversity – Centre for Deaf Studies (CDS)
All pages have a video presenter with subtitles off the video screen. The videos are compressed with Flash.
http://www.bris.ac.uk/deaf/

American Sign Language Bowser
Online video clip dictionary of American Sign Language
This web site contains a sample of the material found on the award winning Personal Communicator CD-ROM.
http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/index.htm

Hand Speak
Handspeak™ is a subscription-based website, consisting of American Sign Language (ASL) online dictionary, lessons and resources, including Baby Sign, International Sign Language, Emoticon + Bodicon (facial expression + body language), gestures, manual alphabet (fingerspelling) and numeral, Sign stories and arts.
http://www.handspeak.com

Free Online Dictionary
A completely free online dictionary of over 7200 American Sign Language Signs
http://www.aslpro.com/cgi-bin/aslpro/aslpro

Basic Dictionary of American Sign Language Terms (same as above)
This dictionary has both animated and text definitions
http://www.masterstech-home.com/asldict.html

Lesson Tutor
Learning American Sign Language (ASL): Using Alphabet Flash Cards (not free)
http://www.lessontutor.com/ees_asl_flashcards.html

British Sign Language Online Dictionary
Uses Shockwave, with various 3D characters to teach basic signs. Category based.
Fairly good. Though it takes time to load each clip, a “Loading” indication is missing
http://www.learnbsl.org/index.htm

Sign the Language
Test yourself if you have learnt the sign language
http://www.funbrain.com/signs/

ASL University is an online curriculum resource for American Sign Language students, instructors, interpreters, and parents of deaf children.
Uses photos instead of video
http://www.lifeprint.com/

Sign Language Games
Here are a few games you can purchase
http://www.educationallearninggames.com/sign-language-games-1.asp

Sign Language Singers
A cute trio of young sign language singers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPTMv0bBe4o