Due to increased requirements for the inclusion of all people, it is necessary to search for solutions that will help disabled individuals bring equal rights for using public services. For deaf individuals, the ability to express themselves is strongly linked to the understanding, familiarity, and prevalence of sign language. The deaf community in Slovenia can use a web video dictionary which can be used for learning sign language. In this master's thesis, we present the implementation of a new prototype of a Slovenian sign language dictionary with a 3D animated avatar for sign language, along with its evaluation based on a limited set of known gestures. Compared to a classical video dictionary, this form offers more functionalities, can improve the user experience, and increase the quality of learning sign language. We used Blender to create animated gestures of hands and facial expressions for the 3D model. The user interface was created in Unity. The dictionary was tested in collaboration with a group of deaf individuals who are fluent in Slovenian sign language. The test results confirmed the usefulness and desirability of a dictionary with an animated avatar. Participants expressed a desire to see this solution available for wider use. In the future, it is possible to further improve this kind of dictionary with more functions and personalization of the avatar.
|
