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From: cdvnsp@ritvax.isc.rit.edu (Larry Nehring)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Computerized ASL dictionary
Summary: asl computer dictionary
Keywords: asl, computer, dictionary
Message-ID: <15880@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 27 Nov 90 20:42:49 GMT
References: <15870@bunker.UUCP>
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Reply-To: cdvnsp@ritvax.isc.rit.edu (Larry Nehring)
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Index Number: 11972

In article <15870@bunker.UUCP>, gest_ss@uhura.cc.rochester.edu
(Gavin Stark) writes...
>Index Number: 11967
> 
>	Here is a good question for you all... Does a computerized 
>ASL dictionary exist?  I have seen Sign Friends but I was not impressed
>with its resolution or speed. 
> 
>	My idea is fairly simple.. I would like to see a videodisk (or
>a set of disks) that would be controlled from say either a Mac or an Amiga
>and would be able to cross reference related words, show different inflections
>of signs, show regional differences, etc.  A truely complete, and difficult
>project.  If anyone has done, started, or are interested in something like
>this please send me e-mail, or post a followup.  If there is interest I will 
>post a summary.
> 

Hey Gavin, Its Larry here!

This past summer at the International Congress of Educators of the Deaf
(Rochester, NY)  the National Technical Institute for the Deaf showed off its
Lipreading/Speechreading Videodisk, as accessed by a Mac SE (I believe).

As of yet, I know of no other projects where one is being used.

I agree that it would be far better than a book dictionary,
but it would also have many limitations of the "non-linguistic" parts of ASL.

I think that a different approach to organising the ASL videodisctionary would
have to be developed, in order to represent the ASL principles
(Handshape/Orientation/Movement/Position/etc.)  A good starting place would
probably be William Stokoe's ASL dictionary (the first of its kind) which used
these principles to list signs, as opposed to the standard English
Alphabetical.

Hope this is helpful

Larry Nehring
National Technical Institute for the Deaf
@ Rochester Institute of Technology
(and University of Rochester Grad student)
via Chris