Add Hand Talk to vendor list?

[michaelspellacy]

Hi @karlgroves Came across a questionable overlay recently that is not on the list. This one is called "Hand Talk" and I was wondering if you have ever heard of them? This one is, shall we say, amusing. It creates a virtual signer to perform ASL for reader:

"Our technology can provide automatic translations from English to ASL (American Sign Language), translating all the written content and alternative texts in your website."

Last time I checked, Deaf/HOH people can access and read a page without such an aid. so I fail to see any point to it, other than to possibly take advantage of companies who may not know better. Welcome your thoughts. Thank you!

https://www.handtalk.me/en/plugin/
https://www.handtalk.me/

[michaelspellacy]

I might also mention that somebody from this company appears to be a signatory, Livia Gabos, Accessibility Product Owner, Hand Talk. If it is a legit product then great, but just wanted to flag it.

[Xoog]

I'd be really interested to know how this actually works. ASL, as well as BSL, aren't English. So if it takes verbatim whatever it's translating, it will be useless to the user. It's also AI-driven, which is a problem in itself. There's definitely a market for this stuff. I've seen UK companies offering this type of thing, except it's a video of real people translating your copy. More snake oil I suspect...

[colabottles]

I'd say if there is anyone that would look at this that is fluent in ASL/BSL and get their thoughts on this before deciding to add this to the list, I would suggest that. If this is a legit product, I wouldn't want to see it on the list.

As good as it seems to me, I am leery of the product as well. I'd rather get someone who have the knowledge and the experience in Sign Language to weigh-in (or multiple folks) before a bunch of people that aren't fluent or experienced in SL make a decision they probably have no business making.

[michaelspellacy]

@colabottles Yeah, I agree with having it vetted first, it just seems so odd that there would be a market for such a widget to begin with and @Xoog, really good point about converting verbatim text to ASL/BSL.

[michaelspellacy]

@colabottles I reached out to a Deaf friend. They are not fluent in ASL, but they did share with some friends who liked it and mentioned that some deaf users preferred signing over reading, which I was unaware of (this is why we ask). As for the accuracy of the tool, verdict still out on that. I'm sure more testing will be needed.

[colabottles]

@michaelspellacy Good to hear! I agree, more testing is needed. I'll reach out to some folks in my network and talk to them as well. Thanks!

[michaelspellacy]

Just an FYI that Meryl Evans has an interesting conversation going on LinkedIn about these types of overlays (Thanks @karlgroves). Very insightful. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/meryl_merylmots-accessibility-disability-activity-7096898269087219712-MF5p

[colabottles]

@michaelspellacy After reading Meryl's post and the comments from the community, I have no objection to putting these on the list personally if there is a lot of work to be done (and by the looks of it there is).

So just with any other overlay we know of, it seems these ASL overlays need to be put on blast.