Folium: Wearable, Robotic, Sign Language Translator via Engadget
Folium: Wearable, Robotic, Sign Language Translator via Engadget
Folium: Wearable, Robotic, Sign Language Translator via Engadget
For most schools, the study of modern languages and cultures is usually split between humanities and social science departments. These are areas that are all about the people and their cultural productions. They create observations, case studies, literary analysis, and historical accounts. Rarely, if never, do these departments dabble in the dark, scary world of math, science, technology, and engineering.
That’s why I’m happy for places like Cornell University, who enthusiastically utilize the talent and the resources to bridge that gap.
http://youtu.be/wmaxjqnWdac
This development is nothing short of awesomeness, and is the perfect example of intelligent students proving that the differences between language, culture, and science is only as big as we make it.
Their prototype glove uses accelerometers, contact sensors and flex sensors to translate complex finger gestures from the American Sign Language alphabet into spoken letters: after converting hand positions to digital signals, the test unit both speaks out the resulting letters and sends them to a computer, where they can be used for anything from a game (shown in the video below) to, presumably, constructing whole sentences.
This is why I believe in a “liberal arts” education. STEM (science, technology, engineering, and medical) students need to get to know people in order to effectively understand and solve their problems. And those in humanities and the social sciences need the expertise of STEM students to make their ideas a reality.
These Cornell University students have proven that the greatest discoveries are yet to come, and their knowledge of STEM fields can be used to bring people closer together.
So, science students – go learn about people! And people students – don’t fear math and science courses!
