Real-World Impacts of Sign Language Technologies
Kevin Lee, Josephine Joo · 2025
While these tools are not yet ready for full automation, they already reduce the need for manual editing and support template-based systems for real-world use. This paper analyzes real-world use cases from South Korea and the United States, focusing on five key areas: lifesaving information accessibility, infrastructure accessibility, cultural participation accessibility, web-based information accessibility, and education. These applications reveal the broader social value of current sign language technologies. They not only improve functional accessibility, but also foster cultural recognition of sign language, enhance the independence of deaf individuals, and promote inclusive communication in both public and private domains. As AI and avatar generation technologies continue to evolve, further progress will depend on participatory design with the deaf community, cross-sector collaboration, and policy support — ensuring that future systems advance not only technological capability but also social equity and human rights.