Inclusive Communication for Arabic Notation: Decoding Lebanese Sign Language Using Gesture Recognition
Ali Abdallah, Amine Abdellatif, Joelle Nader, Jad Said, Layla A. A. Sultan · 2025
Effective communication is indispensable for human connection, learning, and social engagement. However, for those with physical disabilities, particularly the deaf and mute community, verbal communication becomes a significant challenge. Expressing thoughts becomes complicated when sign language, a primary mode of communication for this community, is not widely understood. While devices exist to convert sign language into text and speech, they are predominantly designed for English-spoken people. In this work, we focus on identifying the Arabic hand sign language, a unique and regionally distinctive sign language, that has not garnered much attention from foreign recognition systems. We study the characteristics of the above-mentioned sign language and try to convert it into speech and text. We research, investigate, implement, test, and evaluate an online real-time Arabic Sign Language interpreter based on gesture recognition, as an attempt to revolutionize accessibility for the Lebanese deaf and mute, reducing communication barriers in education, healthcare, and various sectors.