<P>You may want to consult with Antonio Rocha in Brazil as he has been developing Sign Writing Markup Language with exactly the same goal in mind. It is formally registered as a language and you could dovetail your research.
<P>I'm specifically flagging him so he'lll get this message in his home email box.
<P> <B><I>Michael Golebiewski <mike.golebiewski@VERIZON.NET></I></B> wrote:
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<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>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>The software will be based on the ability to
^мн raw m 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
^мн raw m signs for search entry. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></P>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Michael Golebiewski<BR><A href="mailto:mjg12@alumni.cwru.edu">mjg12@alumni.cwru.edu</A></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE><p><br><hr size=1>Do you Yahoo!?<br>
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