SignWriting on mobile phones for the deaf

Abstract

SignWriting, a writing system for sign language, is becoming a useful and convenient communication aid for people who are deaf. Principally, people who are deaf communicate amongst themselves and with the hearing community via text messaging on mobile phones. Existing messaging function is limited to writing based on the Roman alphabets or pictographic languages like Mandarin; writing in signs is deemed to be deficient in a mobile context. Hence, the aim of this paper is to examine the feasibility of writing and reading text messages in signs as an alternative communication mean besides SMS. An empirical evaluation has been conducted to evaluate the users' preferences and acceptance level among the deaf community. Research outcomes and initial experimental results have significantly exemplified that SignWriting gains well acceptance and is preferred among the hearing-impaired community to communicate within or between the hearing communities.