Hello Monday/DEPT® collaborates with NVIDIA to launch Signs Platform for ASL learning and community engagement
Creative agency Hello Monday/DEPT® today announced a collaboration with NVIDIA and the American Society for Deaf Children to launch Signs, an AI-powered web tool designed to bridge communication gaps between Deaf and hearing communities.
Signs empowers users to learn American Sign Language (ASL) while also crowd-sourcing a growing dataset of ASL video content to expand accessibility and understanding. Signs offers an interactive platform where those new to ASL can receive real-time feedback from an AI-driven 3D avatar, while experienced signers can contribute their skills to a dynamic, community-powered dataset.
According to the World Health Organization, over 466 million people worldwide are deaf or hard-of-hearing, which is expected to double by 2050. In the United States, approximately 3.6% of the population, or about 11 million individuals, consider themselves deaf or have significant difficulty hearing. This number is growing, highlighting the increasing need for tools that break down communication barriers and foster connections between the Deaf and hearing communities.
“We’ve long been committed to using technology for social good, and Signs is a continuation of that mission. We are honoured to partner with NVIDIA and the American Society for Deaf Children on this initiative and believe that improving ASL accessibility is an ongoing effort that deserves attention and innovation.
”Anders Jessen, Founding Partner, Hello Monday/DEPT®
“AI is driving applications that will benefit all communities. With the Signs platform, we aim to accelerate research in areas like sign language recognition, language acquisition, and assistive technologies, helping benefit the entire Deaf community.
”Michael R. Boone, Manager, Trustworthy AI Product, NVIDIA
The platform is designed for a wide audience, from eager learners of ASL to fluent signers who want to support the community by contributing videos. By participating, users help expand a living ASL resource that benefits future learners and fosters meaningful connections.
The inspiration behind Signs stems from the success of Fingerspelling.xyz, an AI-driven platform launched in 2021 that focused on teaching the ASL alphabet. Recognised as a valuable educational tool by the American Society for Deaf Children, it became clear that a more comprehensive solution was needed to teach the full richness of ASL beyond the alphabet.
Users can access Signs from their phones, tablets, or desktops to start their ASL learning journey. The platform offers step-by-step guidance for beginners and opportunities for ASL-proficient individuals to contribute video content that expands the learning experience for others.
For more information on Signs and to start learning or contributing, visit signs-ai.com.
