A tech company called Talksign has created new tools to help deaf and hearing people understand each other much more easily. Talksign, an artificial intelligence (AI) company based in Nigeria and the UK, has launched two smart computer models that can translate American Sign Language (ASL) into words, speech, and video instantly.
Most everyday technology like video calls or customer service desks is made for people who can speak and hear. Talksign is changing this by creating a digital bridge between spoken words and sign language.
Meet the Two New AI Tools
Talksign has released two different tools that work together to make two-way conversation smooth.
1. Palm 1.0 (Sign Language to Words)
This tool acts like an interpreter. When a deaf person signs in front of a standard webcam, Palm 1.0 watches their body movements.
• How it works: Instead of looking at a raw video, the AI focuses on 133 key points on the user’s body, including their hands, face, head, and shoulders.
• The result: It translates the signs into written text or spoken words in real time with high accuracy. Because it looks at the whole body, it understands full sentences and continuous conversations rather than just single gestures.
2. Echo 1.0 (Words to Sign Language)
This tool works in the opposite direction. When a hearing person speaks or types a message, Echo 1.0 instantly translates it for a deaf user.
• How it works: It takes the English text and converts it into a realistic 3D video.
• The result: A lifelike, digital person (an avatar) appears on the screen and signs the message back to the deaf user. The video is so fast and smooth that the signing happens with almost no delay.
“Palm 1.0 is the first model we are confident putting into the hands of Deaf users at scale. The next step is putting it everywhere a Deaf person needs to communicate: on phones, smart glasses, in classrooms and hospitals.”
— Edidiong Ekong, CEO and Co-Founder of Talksign
The idea behind Talksign comes from a very personal place. The company’s co-founder, Edidiong Ekong, grew up in Nigeria with three deaf friends. When he was just 9 years old, he realized he was being left out of their world because he didn’t know how to talk to them. So, he learned sign language.
Years later, he used his childhood experience and AI engineering to build Talksign so that nobody else has to feel left out of a conversation.
Where Will This Be Used?
Talksign is designed to help in public spaces when a professional human interpreter isn’t available. In the future, you might see this technology used in:
• Hospitals: Helping doctors and deaf patients understand each other.
• Live News and Emergency Alerts: Instantly showing a signing avatar on screen during important announcements.
• Schools and Workplaces: Making it easier for deaf students and employees to participate fully.
While the current system focuses mostly on American Sign Language, the Talksign team is already working hard to expand its tools to understand other sign languages, including Nigerian Sign Language and British Sign Language.
