Sony has taken a significant step towards enhancing gaming accessibility for deaf players by filing a patent for an innovative in-game sign language translator. This technology, titled "TRANSLATION OF SIGN LANGUAGE IN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT," aims to bridge communication gaps by translating American Sign Language (ASL) into Japanese Sign Language (JSL) in real-time, allowing deaf gamers to interact seamlessly within video games.
The system proposed by Sony involves capturing the sign language gestures of one user, converting them into text, and then translating that text into the corresponding sign language gestures of another user's native language. This process ensures that players from different linguistic backgrounds can communicate effectively during in-game conversations. Sony emphasizes the importance of this technology, noting that sign languages are not universal and vary by geographical origin, thus creating a need for such a translation system.
Proposed to Use VR Devices and Work Over Cloud Gaming
To implement this system, Sony suggests using VR devices or head-mounted displays (HMDs). These devices would connect to user devices like personal computers or game consoles, providing an immersive viewing experience within the virtual environment. The HMDs could be connected via wired or wireless means, enhancing the flexibility and user experience.
Furthermore, Sony envisions that the system would allow user devices to communicate over a network with a game server. This server would manage a shared session of the video game, maintaining the game's state and synchronizing it across all connected devices. This setup enables players to interact within the same virtual environment, fostering a collaborative gaming experience.
Sony also proposes integrating this system with cloud gaming, where the game server would render and stream video to each user device. This approach could potentially enhance the performance and accessibility of the sign language translation system, making it more efficient and user-friendly for deaf gamers.
