AI ring translates American Sign Language into text

Researchers at Cornell University have developed an innovative wearable device called the 'SpellRing'. This AI ring converts American Sign Language (ASL) into written text for use on smartphones and computers. SpellRing uses advanced micro-sonar technology to track finger movements in real time. Users wear the ring on their thumb, which incorporates a microphone, a speaker, and a mini-gyroscope. These components work together to monitor hand and finger motions. The researchers have highlighted that the ring is compact, similar in size to a standard U.S. quarter. In their tests, the team composed of researchers from Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, and Stony Brook University, had 20 participants spell over 20,000 words using ASL fingerspelling. The device has shown an impressive text accuracy rate of 82 to 92 percent, depending on the complexity of the words. The research team is currently focused on improving the AI's ability to recognize the 26 handshapes corresponding to each letter of the alphabet. This remains a challenge, as there are significant variations in how letters are signed. They believe that with continued development, SpellRing could eventually translate full ASL sentences, not just individual fingerspelled words. There is no information yet on when the SpellRing will be available to the public.