Domain Specific Sign Language Animation for Virtual Characters

This paper describes the design, implementation and results of a system to animate a virtual character to sign in International Sign (IS) By automatically parsing the input data, the system blends animations smoothly together in order to create a coherent and understandable presentation in sign language, with equal importance assigned to both hand and facial animation. Following the blending step, a video is rendered in a variety of formats suitable for distribution. The system was created in collaboration with groups of people with impaired hearing who were fluent in IS, and who were able to validate the results. We present a test case of the system in the shape of 'Borja', a virtual character who signed biweekly updates of the Barcelona World Race sailing regatta 2010/2011.