2nd International Workshop on Sign Language Translation and Avatar Technology

[John Glauert]

2nd International Workshop on Sign Language Translation and Avatar
Technology (SLTAT)

Date: 23 October 2011
Location: University of Dundee, UK (in conjunction with ASSETS 2011,
24-26 October 2011)

Recent research in the use of 3D virtual human characters, or 
avatars, to animate sign language promises to provide increased 
accessibility for deaf people via the Internet on a range of 
computing devices. In addition, avatars support sign linguistics 
research, providing a potential target for translation from spoken 
and other sign languages, and shedding light on human factors of sign 
language usage.

A highly successful international workshop was held in Berlin in 
January 2011, bringing together a number of workers in the field. 
Submissions are invited for the 2nd International Workshop on Sign 
Language Translation and Avatar Technology (SLTAT) that will be held 
at the University of Dundee in October 2011 associated with ASSETS 
2011.

The workshop will focus on three main topics: symbolic translation of 
sign language, animation of sign language using avatars, and 
usability evaluation of practical translation and animation systems.

The format of the workshop will encourage discussion and 
collaboration between researchers. It is anticipated that we will 
have a mix of oral presentations as well as poster presentations 
covering active work and proposed research. There will be an 
opportunity for demonstration of existing work and presentation of 
videos. The workshop will be interpreted in international sign 
language.

All submissions that address the focus of the workshop are invited, 
but topics of particular interest include:

SYMBOLIC TRANSLATION

* Lexicographic and linguistic approaches
* Use of corpora to inform translation
* Modelling of signing space for translation
* Handling of productive signs, classifier constructions, and 
constructed action
* Incorporation of non-manual features in production
* Consideration of emotional and prosodic aspects

AVATAR ANIMATION

* Requirements for signing avatar technology
* Linguistically-informed notations for gestural animation
* Use of corpora to inform animation
* Realistic animation of manual and bodily gestures
* Flexibility in animation of facial gestures and mouthing

USABILITY

* Evaluation results for practical translation systems
* Evaluation methodologies for signing translation systems
* Realism and acceptability of signing avatars
* Efficient content creation and editing tools for signing texts

The submission process will be handled via the workshop website.

Important Dates:
Submission                   17 July, 2011
Notification of Acceptance   08 August, 2011
Final Programme              16 September, 2011
Workshop                     23 October, 2011

Websites:
2nd SLTAT Workshop           http://embots.dfki.de/SLTAT
ASSETS 2011 Conference       http://www.sigaccess.org/assets11/index.html

Organisers:
John Glauert (University of East Anglia)
Michael Kipp (DFKI)
Alexis Heloir (DFKI)
Thomas Hanke (University of Hamburg)
Matt Huenerfauth (City University of New York)

[Apologies for any duplicate posts]