Communication between Deaf and hearing people is a complex matter, which makes things impossible for the Deaf. Lack of communication and understanding between Deaf and hearing makes it difficult for the Deaf to express their feelings.

A Deaf person walks in the government office. He needs help. The communication becomes complicated because the government does not know South African Sign Language and a Deaf person can't understand sentences - he use South African Sign Language because it's his communication tool. The current solution is that the Deaf person needs to go home and wait for the government to arrange for an interpreter to be present. Time is wasted.

The solution ... instant video interpretation system for the Deaf and Government

The Concept

• The device is a complete computer system utilising a Web cam and several monitors.
• Two of the monitors implemented will be placed at government for use by a Deaf customer and the government official, where the Deaf will communicate with the interpreter through South African Sign Language and the government through sentences.
• The call center will have a complete system with both video and text will appear in one monitor, separately.

The system will be used by three parties - a Deaf person, a government employee and a South African Sign Language interpreter.

The Line of Communication

• The Interpreter and the Government
  • Communicate through text (sentences)
  • Speech will be used only if a problem has occurred during the conservation.
• The Deaf and the Interpreter
  • Will communicate through South African Sign Language by using an instant video messaging

NB : It is both the government and interpreter's responsibility to make the conservation a successful one and have the Deaf customer leave satisfied and happy.

Use Case Diagram : Digital Video Interpretation Network

Use Case 1 : Liaison (Normal Flow)

• CUSTOMER comes to office
• CUSTOMER introduces himself to the government (see Use Case Introduce)
• The government establish liaison (see Use Case Initiate)
• Connect request (ready)
• Network (ready)
• Government asks how they can help and initiates an email to interpreter.

Use Case 2.1 : Dialogue (Normal Flow)

• Customer explains his problem.
• Interpreter looks at the sign and transfers it into sentence.
• Government reads the information, types a reply and sends it to interpreter.
• Interpreter reads the sentence and signs it to the customer.

Interpreter's role as bilingual, bi-cultural liaison

• Customer talks to interpreter (Using South African Sign Language)
• Government talks to interpreter (Using text)
• Interpreter is the language translator (From Sign to sentences)