Friday, January 27, 2006

Robotic hand translates speech

An 80-centimeter robotic hand that can <A HREF="http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/culture/20060116TDY19003.htm">covert spoken words and simple phrases into sign language</A> has been developed in a town in Fukuoka Prefecture. The robotic hand was shown at a two-legged robot tournament held at the Fukuoka Prefecture Education Center in Sasagurimachi, where it won applause from appreciative spectators. A microchip in the robot recognizes the 50-character hiragana syllabary and about 10 simple phrases such as "ohayo" (good morning) and sends the information to a central computer, which sends commands to 18 micromotors in the joints of the robotic hand, translating the sound it hears into sign language.

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