Project description DEENESFRITPL Avatar to deliver sign language interpretation The language barrier faced by the deaf community has been a longstanding challenge. Existing sign language translation methods often fall short, unable to capture the intricate facial expressions essential for understanding. The EU-funded SiMAX project aims to change the game with a translation ‘machine’ that combines sign language expertise with advanced ICT tools. The overall aim is to revolutionise accessibility for the deaf community. By leveraging smart algorithms and a ‘learning’ database, SiMAX technology will enable human translators to fine-tune translations suggested by the system, resulting in a lifelike avatar delivering accurate sign language interpretations. SiMAX system’s commercial potential is immense, with digital content, TV, and film poised to become more inclusive than ever before. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective The Austrian SME signtime has combined its expertise in sign language translation and ICT tool development deliveringSiMAX, an innovative translation “machine” easy to use: A human translator only needs to adjust translations suggested bysmart algorithms on a “learning” database. The result: A video showing an avatar signing. The process is flexible for futureadaptations, less time and cost consuming than classical translation videos produced in a studio with human translatorssigning.Compared to other mostly academic sign language translation approaches SiMAX is closest to market and the only onereaching a feasible quality of facial expressions essential for understanding due to grammatical meanings in sign languages.Business opportunities are enormous associated with making information accessible to the deaf community: any digitalcontent (for web publishing or other purposes), TV, film. Accessibility regulations favour market growth and demand.During the project SiMAX will be adapted to TRL 9 working as cloud solution and fine-tuned for mass-production. Pilottranslations of citizen and consumer information (for public authorities and companies) will be carried out in Germany, UK,France and Poland together with translators, another important customer/partner group.We will further raise maximum attention for SiMAX translations in the deaf community and will inform key stakeholders andpotential customers about SiMAX and its added values for them. A commercialization strategy for market entry across theEU will be prepared and evaluated within the project.The project fits with the requirements of this SME call, adding a completely new, market changing solution. SiMAX providessignificant growth options to our company and perfectly fits with our overall strategy. Societally, it can essentially contributeto increase accessibility to information society for the deaf community thus contributing to inclusion and social cohesion inthe EU. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdatabaseshumanitieslanguages and literaturelinguisticssign languagesocial scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementinnovation managementsocial sciencessociologysocial issuessocial inequalitiessocial scienceslaw Programme(s) H2020-EU.2.1.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Main Programme H2020-EU.2.3.1. - Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument Topic(s) SMEInst-01-2016-2017 - Open Disruptive Innovation Scheme Call for proposal H2020-SMEInst-2016-2017 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-SMEINST-2-2016-2017 Funding Scheme SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2 Coordinator Sign time GmbH Net EU contribution € 1 094 360,75 Address Schottenring 33 1010 WIEN Austria See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Ostösterreich Wien Wien Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 563 372,50