1. eSIGN eSIGN – Essential Sign Language Information on Government Networks zeContent project (5th Framework IST) zCoordinator: University of Hamburg yInstitute of German Sign Language and Communication of the Deaf

2. eSIGN eSIGN Consortium zU Hamburg (DE) – Coordinator zSystematics Integrations (EDS subsidiary, DE) zNorfolk City Council (UK) zViataal (NL) zU East Anglia (UK) zTelevirtual (UK) zRoyal National Institute for Deaf People (UK)

3. eSIGN Consortium Synergy RNID IvD SI NCC UH UEA TVL Virtual Signing eGovernment Community access

4. eSIGN Sign Language & the European Deaf Community zSign language is the closest-to-native language for the Deaf community z0.1% of the European population zNo written form of sign language zWritten language competence of many Deaf people poor yBilingual education spreading slowly

5. eSIGN Project Idea: Virtual signing into eGovernment initiatives zVirtual signing reduces bandwidth problems with digital video zRelatively easy=cheap and flexible production process zEnsures Deaf people’s integration into a key component of tomorrow’s Information Society (cf. anti-discrimination acts) zMultilingual focus: British Sign Language, Deutsche Gebärdensprache, Nederlandse Gebarentaal

6. eSIGN Virtual Signing on the World Wide Web

7. eSIGN Builds on ViSiCAST Animation and Language Technology zIST project 2000–2002 zVirtual signing on television, in counter transactions and on WWW

8. eSIGN ViSiCAST Technologies zMotion capture yMotion realistic animation yBetter compression than video yExpensive hardware required zSynthetic animation yLooks more robotic but is comprehensible yEven lower data rate yMore flexible

9. eSIGN Participation in eGovernment Services zInformation services yOne-way zTransaction services yTwo-way, but restricted back channel zCommunication services yTwo-way, unrestricted

10. eSIGN eSIGN Information Services zFreestyle text yGenerated with an „intelligent“ sign language editor yRequires a human translator yLexicon synthetic

11. eSIGN “Intelligent” Sign Language Editor

12. eSIGN eSIGN Information Services (2) zSchematised text yLanguage model for restricted context yAutomatic translation allows frequent updates yLexicon synthetic or motion capture

13. eSIGN eSIGN Transaction Services zForm filling with signed prompts zIntroduction and help texts with signed prompts zAnswers as numbers or text, the latter preferrably multiple choice zLexicon synthetic or motion capture

14. eSIGN eSIGN Contents: Germany zSystematics & UH zeGovernment components within hamburg.de zLeading role of a European capital zMainly information, partly schematised text

15. eSIGN eSIGN Contents: Netherlands zIvD with support from UEA zJob service for Deaf people zFocus on form contents

16. eSIGN eSIGN Contents: UK zNorfolk, RNID & UEA z„Life events“ concept offered by county council zFocus on filling forms

17. eSIGN Exploitation zClient software will be made available free of charge to the Deaf community so that the three eSIGN sites will immediately become accessible to the target group. zEnabling Deaf people’s political participation not only a social objective, but becoming a legal requirement through national anti-discrimination acts. zWe provide and demonstrate a versatile and cost- effective possibility to create sign language versions of eGovernment portals that delivers quality without substantial bandwidth requirements.

18. eSIGN Exploitation (2) zThe approach taken can be adapted for other European sign languages, this requires building the appropriate lexicons. zOnce the tools are in place, the model is not restricted to eGovernment, but can be applied to B2C contexts such as mail order, virtual travel agencies etc. zIt is not only the (comparatively small) customer target group, but also the prestige to care about a handicapped customer group.