Evaluation of Animated Swiss German Sign Language Fingerspelling Sequences and Signs

This paper reports on work in animating Swiss German Sign Language (DSGS) fingerspelling sequences and signs as well as on the results of a study evaluating the acceptance of the animations. The animated fingerspelling sequences form part of a fingerspelling learning tool for DSGS, while the animated signs are to be used in a study exploring the potential of sign language avatars in sign language assessment. To evaluate the DSGS fingerspelling sequences and signs, we conducted a focus group study with seven early learners of DSGS. We identified the following aspects of the animations as requiring improvement: non-manual features (in particular, facial expressions and head and shoulder movements), (fluidity of) manual movements, and hand positions of fingerspelling signs.