SpellRing: A Smart Ring That Translates Sign Language

Researchers at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, have developed an innovative wearable device called “SpellRing”, designed to translate American Sign Language (ASL) finger spelling into text.

This advancement aims to bridge communication gaps between the deaf and hard-of-hearing community and those unfamiliar with sign language.​

SpellRing is a thumb-worn gadget equipped with micro-sonar sensors and deep-learning algorithms. It detects subtle finger movements associated with ASL finger spelling by emitting sound waves and interpreting the returning echoes.

This compact and user-friendly technology enables the device to accurately translate gestures into corresponding text in real-time. The research team trained SpellRing on approximately 20 000 ASL words.

ASL, developed in the early 18th century, is used by approximately 400 000 people in the United States today. Despite its prevalence, many individuals outside the deaf and hard-of-hearing community lack proficiency in ASL, leading to communication barriers.

SpellRing addresses this challenge by enabling real-time translation of finger-spelled words, facilitating smoother interactions between ASL users and non-users.​

The team intends to expand the device’s capabilities to eyeglasses that can “read” a user’s face and upper body movements.

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