In celebration of International Day of Sign Languages, the Minister of Social Development and Family, Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad, has announced the "Jumla Sign Language" project for individuals who are hard of hearing. The Mada - Qatar Assistive Technology Center, at the Ministry of Social Development and Family developed the groundbreaking project, the first of its kind in the world. The project aims to support researchers and developers in creating innovative tools for people with hearing impairment.

Sign languages, similar to spoken languages, have structured grammar and syntax. Despite being visual, multi-dimensional, and predominantly gesture-based, sign language follows specific grammatical rules. As such, automatic sign language generation should also adhere to these rules. In this context, Mada is developing a new framework to assist researchers and developers in creating innovative tools for the deaf community. The main objective is to design tools that enable software development by using grammatically validated sentences.

In addition the project also aims to build a new tool that converts texts to sign languages. The purpose of this tool is to provide a web service to developers for free. The service is offered to any developer after submitting an online request.

The International Day of Sign Languages serves as a reminder to prioritize accessibility and inclusivity in all aspects of society to raise awareness about sign language and the rights of the deaf. The project reflects these values and comes as part of the country's ongoing legacy to nurture an inclusive and brighter future for all.

Source: The Peninsula Qatar