Signapse: Using AI to Improve Accessibility for BSL Users

ProMo Cymru is partnering with Signapse AI to make digital content more accessible through British Sign Language (BSL).

---

Through this partnership, ProMo is exploring how AI assisted BSL translation can support digital communication while saving time and reducing barriers to implementation.

Signapse is a Deaf-first organisation using AI to translate written content into high-quality sign language videos. These translations can be embedded directly into websites using a simple plugin, allowing users to access BSL translations in real time as they interact with page content. During this phase of development, the technology is supported by a human-in-the-loop approach, where qualified BSL translators review the AI while it continues to learn.

To support the ongoing development of the technology, we’ve shared 170 articles from our website to help train Signapse’s AI system

Signapse is developing this technology with support from a $1.5 million Google-funded project. As part of this work, a limited number of third-sector organisations in the UK and USA can have up to 10 website pages translated into BSL or ASL. 

We are pleased to be one of the organisations selected to take part. We’ve worked with Signapse to translate our ‘Making Services Inclusive’ resource series. 

The plugin provided by Signapse is only available for English language pages currently while they work on perfecting the use of AI. They are committed to exploring the possibility of expanding into other languages in the future. To learn more about Signapse’s offer to third-sector organisations click here.