<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2719.2200" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>I am Computer Scientist interested in developing software for the deaf.
For the past several months I have been investigating the possibility of a piece
of software that will do sign to English translation. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Any time you can take to provide me
feedback on my goals and answer questions will greatly be
appreciated.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>The software will be based on the ability to “draw” with icons a sign on
the screen and search for possible meanings of the sign. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>After studying the SignWriting.org site for the past week I think that it
would be an excellent way to have users “draw” signs for search
entry. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">In essence I would be allowing users to
query based on an icon language. The language being Sign Writing symbols, and
relative positioning on the screen. While not common place the concept of
graphical search languages are not new. </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">It appears that the SignBank software, I
have not used it for a lack of File Maker, presents a dictionary of signs a
user can browse in a hierarchal fashion. The difference in what I am considering
is an interface where the user can search based on any criteria of the sign they
draw. </SPAN></FONT><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3></FONT></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3><o:p>I have a few specific questions, but
any input would be appreciated:</o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<UL>
<LI>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3><o:p>Is this functionality perceived as
useful? </o:p></FONT></FONT></DIV></LI>
<LI>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3><o:p>How do people feel about Sign Writing
used in such an application? </o:p></FONT></FONT></DIV></LI></UL>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3></FONT> </P></FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Michael Golebiewski<BR><A
href="mailto:mjg12@alumni.cwru.edu">mjg12@alumni.cwru.edu</A></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>