Sign language image processing for intelligent communication by a communications satellite

A method fo transmitting sign language images by an intelligent communication is proposed. In this method text data is transmitted to synthesize sign language images at the receiving end. Dictionaries for coding and decoding sign language images are developed, and a stick figure model is adopted to draw the sign language images using computer graphics (CG). Joint angles are given, and bending fingers and arms are described by the connecting vectors. Based on the evaluation of the synthesized sign language images evaluated by handicapped persons, surface and solid models are used to display 3-D sign language images, and an animation with controlled hand motion speed is synthesized to improve the understanding of communication by sign language. An experiment using a Japanese communications satellite was conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed communication method