2nd International Workshop on Sign Language Translation and Avatar
Technology (SLTAT)

Date: 23 October 2011
Location: University of Dundee, UK (in conjunction with ASSETS 2011,
24-26 October 2011)

Recent research in the use of 3D virtual human characters, or avatars,
to animate sign language promises to provide increased accessibility
for deaf people via the Internet on a range of computing devices. In
addition, avatars support sign linguistics research, providing a
potential target for translation from spoken and other sign languages,
and shedding light on human factors of sign language usage.

A highly successful international workshop was held in Berlin in
January 2011, bringing together a number of workers in the field.
Submissions are invited for the 2nd International Workshop on Sign
Language Translation and Avatar Technoloey (SLTAT) that will be held
at the University of Dundee in October 2011 associated with ASSETS
2011.

The workshop will focus on three main topics: symbolic translation of
sign language, animation of sign language using avatars, and usability
evaluation of practical translation and animation systems.

The format of the workshop will encourage discussion and collaboration
between researchers. It is anticipated that we will have a mix of oral
presentations as well as poster presentations covering active work and
proposed research. There will be an opportunity for demonstration of
existing work and presentation of videos. The workshop will be
interpreted in international sign language.

All submissions that address the focus of the workshop are knvited,
but topics of particular interest include:

SYMBOLIC TRANSLATION

* Lexicographic and linguistic approaches
* Use of corpora to inform translation
* Modelling of signing space for translation
* Handling of productive signs, classifier constructions, and constructed action
* Incorporation of non-manual features in production
* Consideration of emotional and prosodic aspects

AVATAR ANIMATION

* Requirements for signing avatar technology
* Linguistically-informed notations for gestural animation
* Use of corpora to inform animation
* Realistic animation of manual and bodily gestures
* Flexibility in animation of facial gestures and mouthing

USABILITY

* Evaluation results for practical translation systems
* Evaluation methodologies for signing translation systems
* Realism and acceptability of signing avatars
* Efficient content creation and editing tools for signing texts

The submission process will be handled via the workshop website.

Important Dates:
Submission 17 July, 2011
Notification of Acceptance 08 August, 2011
Final Programme 16 September, 2011
Workshop 23 October, 2011

Websites:
2nd SLTAT Workshop http://embots.dfki.de/SLTAT
ASSETS 2011 Conference http://www.sigaccess.org/assets11/index.html

Organisers:
John Glauert (University of East Anglia)
Michael Kipp (DFKI)
Alexis Heloir (DFKI)
Thomas Hanke (University of Hamburg)
Matt Huenerfauth (City University of New York)