Helping hand: one teen's fast-food run bagged him more than a meal. He found inspiration for a prize-winning invention--one that may bridge the communication gap between the hearing and the deaf. (Inventions/Hearing).

WHEN RYAN Patterson hit his local Burger King, he noticed a group of customers using sign language to place an order. But the deaf adults relied on a speaking interpreter to relay their choices to a cashier. A light bulb flashed in Patterson's brain: "I thought it would make things more convenient if they had an electronic interpreter instead," says the 17-year-old of Grand Junction, Colorado.

And when the high school senior, an avid science-fair competitor, was trying to drum up a new project, he remembered that idea. Patterson went on to invent the Sign Language Translator.

The handy creation consists of a glove lined with 10 sensors placed along the fingers; the sensors detect the hand positions used to shape the alphabet of American Sign Language (ASL). Then a microprocessor (miniature computer) records data from the sensors and transmits the information to a small portable receiver. The receiver's screen--the size of those on cell phones--displays the words, letter by letter. "This way people can read the characters even if they don't understand sign language," says Patterson. "And people who use sign language can live more independently. They can do simple errands without an interpreter."

Impressed? So were judges at the 2001 Siemens Westinghouse Science and Technology Competition. The project garnered top honors, along with a $100,000 college scholarship for the young inventor. "Not only is Patterson's project groundbreaking, it's already patented," says lead judge George D. Nelson, project director at the American Association for the Advancement of Science. "You wouldn't ask more from a small engineering start-up company."

ELECTRONICS WHIZ

Patterson spent nine months experimenting with his invention. First, he had to research how ASL works (see chart, p. 19). "Then I had to figure out what it would take to translate all that electronically," he says. Fortunately, Patterson had a heads-up: "I've always had an interest in electronics. I've liked wiring things together since I was 4 years old." He also has hands-on experience from his part-time job writing software and designing circuitry at a robotic-equipment lab.

Patterson is used to hunting for hardware to build competition robots, but this project sent him shopping in another department: To find the right material to envelop the hand's sensors, Patterson examined a variety of gloves. "A golf glove turned out to be the best solution," he says. It's soft, durable, flexible, and full-fingered. Plus, it's designed to stay cool in summer and warm in winter. Besides comfort, the glove's snug fit also improves the sensors' sign-reading accuracy.

For each hand movement, Patterson's program uses the sewn-in sensors to detect distances between the fingers and the palm--this determines the corresponding letter in the ASL alphabet. But every hand is shaped differently. Also, everyone signs differently. "Just like speaking, I learned there's an accent in signing, too," he says. "So, like voice-recognition systems, the glove isn't very accurate in the beginning. It needs to get used to you." Other limitations: The glove can only finger-spell the alphabet. "People gesture and `speak' with both arms and face. It will be extremely difficult to get sensors to detect full gestures," he says. "Plus, the technology right now couldn't support it."

An estimated 1 to 2 million people in the U.S. are profoundly deaf, says the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (see diagram, above). And most use ASL to communicate. Will this invention make an impact? Patterson has already met with scientists at the institute. "We're impressed by this bright young mind," says Dr. James Battey, director of NIDCD. A recent demonstration at Patterson's hometown deaf community center also stirred keen interest. "They enjoyed playing with it," Patterson says. "They know it's just a prototype. But they were very supportive."

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Patterson, who enters college this September, hopes to see his invention on the market one day. "What I have now isn't ready, for production. I'm sure it'll be very different by the time it's actually manufactured." Already in the works: a revised model that talks. "It speaks what you're fingerspelling." Says Ryan: "I've learned a lot through the process. I just hope it'll be helpful someday."

HANDS-ON SPELLING

American Sign Language (ASL), the first language of most deaf Americans and Canadians, is believed to be the fourth most commonly used language in the U.S. It uses hand shape, body position and movements, facial expressions, and other visual cues to communicate. ASL also has its own rules for grammar and sentence structure. And just like spoken language, sign language differs in various regions--complete with jargon and accents. Use this ASL alphabet chart to try your hand at fingerspelling. How do you sign "Hi Mom"? What about your name?

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HOW WE HEAR

Sound waves enter through the pinna (outer ear) and funnel through the auditory canal to strike the tympanic membrane (eardrum). The eardrum vibrates and transmits sound waves to the ossicles (three tiny bones--malleus, incus, and stapes) that amplify the waves, transporting them into the fluid-filled cochlea. The fluid moves ultra-sensitive hair cells (hair-like structures), triggering production of electrical signals. The auditory nerve carries the signals to the brain, which interprets them as sound. When a portion of the ear is damaged, deafness and other hearing impairment may occur. Some causes: genetic factors, chronic and bacterial infections.

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Lesson Plans

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Cross-Curricular Connection

Social Studies: Research and report on one of the following deaf historical figures: Helen Keller, William Hoy, Andrew Foster, Laurent Clerc, Juliette Low.

Did You Know?

* The football huddle was invented in 1892 by quarterback Paul Hubbard at Gallaudet University, a college for the deaf in Washington, D.C. The purpose: prevent the other team from reading their plays.

* German composer Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was profoundly deaf when he composed the Ninth Symphony, one of the most complex and famous musical works ever created.

* Statistics show the deaf population in the U.S. live longer and have safer driving records than hearing people.

National Science Education Standards

Grades 5-8: science and technology in society * understanding about science and technology * structure and function in living systems

Grades 9-12: science as a human endeavor * understanding about science and technology * the cell

Resources

To obtain free curriculum supplements and additional information on hearing, visit the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/kids/index.htm science.education.nih.gov/supplements

For more on deafness, see: The National Association of the Deaf www.nad.org

Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing www.agbell.org

CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING

Name: --

Directions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

1. How does Ryan Patterson's ASL translating glove work?

2. Why is the glove not as accurate at first use? How does usage
   improve it?

3. What are two reasons for the glove's limitations?

4. Why is a golf glove the best choice for the invention?

5. What is the American Sign Language? How does it compare with
   other languages?

Bonus: Describe the hearing process, based on the diagram on page 20.

ANSWERS

Answers will vary but should include the following points:

1. The creation consists of a glove lined with 10 sensors placed along the fingers. The sensors detect the hand positions used to shape the alphabet of the American Sign Language. Then a microprocessor takes the data from the sensors and transmits the information to a small portable receiver. The receiver's screen displays the words letter by letter, allowing people to read the characters.

2. The sewn-in sensors pick up distances between the digits and the palm to determine the corresponding letter in the ASL alphabet. But every person's hand is shaped differently. And just as in speaking, everyone signs differently--including using individual accents. The glove must be trained to become familiar with the user.

3. The one-glove operation can only fingerspell the alphabet. ASL uses arms, face, and body. It is extremely difficult to get sensors to detect full gestures. Also, current technology isn't developed enough to detect full gestures.

4. A golf glove turned out to be the best solution to envelop sensors on the hand because it's soft, durable, flexible, and full-fingered. Plus it's made to be cool in summer and warm in winter. Also, the glove's snug fit helps the sensors in reading accuracy.

5. American Sign Language is the first language of many deaf North Americans. It's believed to be the fourth most commonly used language in the U.S. ASL uses hand shape, body position and movements, facial expressions, and other visual cues to communicate. It also has its own rules for grammar and sentence structure. And just like spoken language, sign language differs in various countries and regions--complete with jargon and accents.

Bonus: Sound waves enter through the pinna (outer ear) and funnel through the auditory canal to strike the tympanic membrane (eardrum). The eardrum vibrates and transmits the sound waves to the ossicles (three tiny bones--malleus, incus, and stapes) that amplify the waves, transporting them into the fluid-filled cochlea. The fluid moves ultra-sensitive hair cells, triggering production of electrical signals. The auditory nerve carries the signals to the brain, which interprets them as sound. When a portion of the ear is damaged, deafness and other hearing impairment may occur.