American sign language of the web

ABSTRACT

The development of non-western character encodings has empowered linguistic communities all over the world to create their own on-line Webs. However, in the case of sign languages, which convey meaning by gestures moving in time and space, the static and textual nature of the WWW medium has, until now, continued to prevent the development of on-line Webs by signing linguistic communities. The challenge then is to enable web designers to create on-line, linked Webs based on moving gestures and signs without the need to use static image or text-based equivalents. We have developed a mechanism, signlinks, that facilitates the development of such Webs, without requiring any degree of bilingualism with a written language for the user. Signlinks use a special form of hyperlinking within video material to enable web browsing without written language.

REFERENCES

• 1: ASL Quest. <http://www.aslquest.com/mainatt.htm. retrieved Oct. 1>, 2003.
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• 3: Poulin, A. & Treasury Board of Canada (2002). Hyperlinks - Legal Issues. www.cio-dpi.gc.ca/ip-pi/forum/4/1/2002/09-19/links-liens/links-liens_e.pdf. retrieved Sept. 30 <http://www.cio-dpi.gc.ca/ip-pi/forum/4/1/2002/09-19/links-liens/links-liens_e.pdf. retrieved Sept. 30>, 2003.
• 4: Vera Roberts , Deborah I. Fels, Methods for Inclusion: Employing Think Aloud Protocol with Individuals Who Are Deaf, Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs, p.284-291, July 15-20, 2002
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INDEX TERMS

Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.4 Hypertext/Hypermedia
          Subjects: User issues; Navigation

  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.3 COMPUTER GRAPHICS
      I.3.6 Methodology and Techniques
          Subjects: Interaction techniques

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors

Keywords:
hypervideo