[Sw-l] Sign Maker - Collecting ideas for faster writing

Fri Nov 26 16:39:02 UTC 2021

Hello Uta and all,

Got a good discussion going on. So there's a lot to say. :-)

I have transcribed several signs, but mostly from personal knowledge rather than videos. Still, I can see taking 3 minutes for each sign can be too long. I am not sure how long it takes me to directly transcribe. I think it really depends on the sign, but I don’t think it takes me an average of 3 minutes a sign. Maybe 2 or 1 1/2. But that is still about 30-40 minutes for 20 signs, which might be longer than you would like.

A lot of times, I do as others have mentioned, copying signs previously written elsewhere, and then modify it as needed. I usually use SignPuddle to Search by Symbol to find something that I am looking for. Although I have gotten pretty good at using the Drag and Drop method in SignPuddle to transcribe directly without searching and then editing.

As far as using a smaller symbol set (or alphabet) than the ISWA, it is possible within SignMaker 2017.  You can select the alphabet used by a specific SignPuddle. I use that sometimes as well. Then I copy the FSW and import it into SignPuddle as you can’t directly save back into the SignPuddle. (You might have to go into More > Preferences and select FSW to get that code under the Edit tab.) Although SignMaker 2017 does have a My Local Dictionary feature that you can copy, export, and import with other dictionaries and then you can edit information directly into the dictionary locally.

It is possible for programmers to get the alphabet information using a link such as: https://www.signbank.org/signpuddle2.0/alphabet.php?ui=1&sgn=53 <https://www.signbank.org/signpuddle2.0/alphabet.php?ui=1&sgn=53>, which is the DGS dictionary puddle.

Here is the link for SignMaker 2017 using the DGS SignPuddle with its alphabet: https://www.signbank.org/signmaker/#?ui=de&alphabet=gsg&dictionary=gsg <https://www.signbank.org/signmaker/#?ui=de&alphabet=gsg&dictionary=gsg>.

Another avenue that I haven’t used much lately is the RAND keyboard that is connected to Wikipedia. It allows for typing signs pretty efficiently once you have learned it. And because it also uses many of the features mentioned with SignPuddle, it has several of the desired features mentioned. I can explain that some if you would like.

That is what I currently use for transcription. Now if we want to talk about improving things for the better, I like the idea of the stylus input and IME. I don’t have a lot of programming experience in those matters, but I suspect that it is possible to create with SignWriting.

Adam

> On Nov 26, 2021, at 5:45 AM, Jonathan Duncan <joyoduncan at GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> If you want to try out QuickSignEditor (no saving capability in this one, but the same is in SignWriter Studio and can save) Try it here.
> 
> https://jonathandduncan.github.io/QuickSignEditor/
> 
> or
> 
> https://jonathandduncan.github.io/QuickSignEditor/signmaker/#?ui=en
> 
> Jonathan
> 
> On 11/25/2021 8:41 PM, Jonathan Duncan wrote:
>> Hi Uta,
>> 
>>     I agree that is a very useful idea. I found myself copying existing signs and modifying them to save work.  Mostly I had to remember the signs I needed to copy them and modify them.
>> 
>>     It seems to me SignMaker 2015 has a feature that does just that.  Import your puddle, then start writing and it can filter the puddle to show signs that match on the left.  Alas, you can't easily save the sign back to the public puddles.
>> 
>>     SignWriter Studio can search signs by symbol too and you can import a puddle to have a starting point. And you can also duplicate entries to easily modify the duplicated one.  And if you have a SignPuddle account you can save it back to the public puddle.  It also has quick sign editor which makes it easier to get to all the symbols and easily change a symbol to another rotation etc. However it only works on Windows.  If you're interested, I can show you how to do it on a Zoom call.
>> 
>> Jonathan
>> 
>> On 11/25/2021 9:44 AM, Uta Meißner wrote:
>>> Hi all,
>>> 
>>> So far, we, delegs (is working with sign2mint), have received about 2000 videos and have also transcribed them. We have been able to gain a lot of experience with signwriting.
>>> 
>>> Who also has experience?
>>> 
>>> We need about one hour for 20 videos and that is too much. We want to go faster. One video is only about 2 seconds long.
>>> 
>>> My suggestion:
>>> - Sign search must be built in, because many signs are similar. And it should be suggested signs and if I find a similar one, then I choose it and adjust it.
>>> - Handshape symbol should always be placed in the middle if neutral (want to avoid long dragging)
>>> - Language selection should lead to reduction of symbols like hand shapes. DGS, for example, has only about 60 hand shapes.
>>> - Left hand that are paralell or symmetrical should be inserted automatically.
>>> 
>>> What do you think?
>>> 
>>> I am looking forward to our animated exchange!
>>> 
>>> Best regards Uta
>>> ________________________________________________
>>> 
>>> SIGNWRITING LIST INFORMATION
>>> 
>>> Valerie Sutton SignWriting List moderator sutton at signwriting.org
>>> 
>>> Post Messages to the SignWriting List: sw-l at listserv.valenciacollege.edu
>>> 
>>> SignWriting List Archives & Home Page http://www.signwriting.org/forums/swlist
>>> 
>>> Join, Leave or Change How You Receive SW List Messages http://listserv.valenciacollege.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=SW-L&A=1 <http://listserv.valenciacollege.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=SW-L&A=1>
>>> 
>> 
>> ________________________________________________
>> 
>> 
>> SIGNWRITING LIST INFORMATION
>> 
>> Valerie Sutton
>> SignWriting List moderator
>> sutton at signwriting.org
>> 
>> Post Messages to the SignWriting List:
>> sw-l at listserv.valenciacollege.edu
>> 
>> SignWriting List Archives & Home Page
>> http://www.signwriting.org/forums/swlist
>> 
>> Join, Leave or Change How You Receive SW List Messages
>> http://listserv.valenciacollege.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=SW-L&A=1
> 
> ________________________________________________
> 
> 
> SIGNWRITING LIST INFORMATION
> 
> Valerie Sutton
> SignWriting List moderator
> sutton at signwriting.org
> 
> Post Messages to the SignWriting List:
> sw-l at listserv.valenciacollege.edu
> 
> SignWriting List Archives & Home Page
> http://www.signwriting.org/forums/swlist
> 
> Join, Leave or Change How You Receive SW List Messages
> http://listserv.valenciacollege.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=SW-L&A=1

________________________________________________

SIGNWRITING LIST INFORMATION

Valerie Sutton
SignWriting List moderator
sutton at signwriting.org

Post Messages to the SignWriting List:
sw-l at listserv.valenciacollege.edu

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