Aspiring US students invent gloves to turn sign language into speech

Two students from the University of Washington have been awarded a US$10,000 (AU$13100) nationwide prize for gloves that can translate sign language into text and speech.

The gloves are built with sensors that are able to read hand position and movement and send it to a computer using Bluetooth technology, according to the University of Washington news website UW TODAY.

Navid Azodi and Thomas Pryor took out the category that recognises inventions that improve consumer devices. As the data matches a gesture, the relevant word or phrase is spoken.

The students developed the gloves to improve upon sign language translation devices, which they say “are not practical for everyday use”.

“Our gloves are lightweight… but ergonomic enough to use as an everyday accessory, similar to hearing aids or contact lenses,” Mr Pryor told UW TODAY.

Mr Pryor is a aeronautics and astronautics engineering student, while Mr Azodi studies business administration. The two bonded over their shared passion for invention and problem-solving and plan to take their invention worldwide.

“Our purpose for developing these gloves was to provide an easy-to-use bridge between native speakers of American Sign Language and the rest of the world,” Mr Azodi said.