Smart Glove Converts Sign Language Letters Into Text

Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a smart glove that wirelessly translates the American Sign Language alphabet into text and controls a virtual hand to mimic sign language gestures. The device, which engineers call “The Language of Glove,” was built for less than $100 using stretchable and printable electronics that are inexpensive, commercially available and easy to assemble.

The glove was created in the lab of nanoengineering professor Darren Lipomi. The lead graduate student on the project, Timothy O'Connor, spoke to 10 News - ABC San Diego about the work. Check out the video clip above.

In addition to decoding American Sign Language gestures, researchers are developing the glove to be used in a variety of other applications ranging from virtual and augmented reality to telesurgery, technical training and defense.

The glove also made an appearance in KPBS, Newsweek, Popular Mechanics, IEEE Spectrum and various other news outlets.

Click here for the full story on the glove -- read more on how it was built, how it works and what's next.

Research Expo 2016 Wrap-Up: And the poster awards go to…

Research Expo 2016 took place Thursday April 14, 2016 and featured a poster session, faculty talks, an awards ceremony and networking reception. The event was a success, thanks to our attendees, judges, sponsors and promotional partners, and the Jacobs School faculty, alumni, staff, and students. Students competed for a grand prize and the Rudee Outstanding Poster Award, as well as for the best poster award in each department. And the winners are…

Photo Credit: Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego Publications

The Rudee Outstanding Poster Award & NanoEngineering Best Poster

Timothy O'Connor, Rudee Outstanding Poster Award and Best Poster Award, NanoEngineering
Photo Credit: Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego Publications

180. STRETCHABLE AND ULTRA-FLEXIBLE ELECTRONICS: WEARABLE SOLAR CELLS

Student(s): Timothy Francis Oconnor

Professor(s): Darren J. Lipomi
Industry Application Area(s): Energy/Clean technology | Materials | Semiconductor

The winners of the Best Poster Awards for each department are:

Bioengineering Best Poster

Gaurav Agrawal, Best Poster, Bioengineering
Photo Credit: Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego Publications

60. ENGINEERED 3D SKELETAL MUSCLE-ON-A-CHIP AS AN IN VITRO TOOL

Student(s): Gaurav Agrawal 
Professor(s): Shyni Varghese 
Industry Application Area(s): Life Sciences/Medical Devices & Instruments

Computer Science and Engineering Best Poster

Ashish Kashinath, Debjit Roy and Justin Tee, Best Poster, Computer Science and Engineering
Photo Credit: Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego Publications

78. FIBBING TO ALLEVIATE CONGESTION IN WAN AND DATA CENTER NETWORKS

Student(s): Ashish Kashinath | Justin Tee | Debjit Roy 
Professor(s): George M. Porter 
Industry Application Area(s): Internet, Networking, Systems | Software, Analytics

Electrical and Computer Engineering Best Poster

Ashok Kodigala, Best Poster Award, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Photo Credit: Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego Publications

103. PLASMONIC NANOSTRUCTURES FOR NANO-SCALE SENSING: PATH TO AN ALL-OPTICAL INTEGRATED SENSOR

Student(s): Ashok Kodigala 
Professor(s): Boubacar Kante | Y. Shaya Fainman 
Industry Application Area(s): Electronics/Photonics | Materials | Semiconductor

Katie Osterday Best Poster Award Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Benjamin Levi Martins, Best Poster Award, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Photo Credit: Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego Publications

137. EVALUATION OF FIBER OPTIC STRAIN SENSORS FOR APPLICATIONS IN STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING

Student(s): Benjamin Levi Martins 
Professor(s): John B. Kosmatka 
Industry Application Area(s): Aerospace, Defense, Security | Civil/Structural Engineering | Energy/Clean technology

Structural Engineering Best Poster

Christine Wittich, Best Poster Award, Structural Engineering
Photo Credit: Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego Publications

199. EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL STUDIES OF FREESTANDING STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS

Student(s): Christine Wittich 
Professor(s): Tara C. Hutchinson 
Industry Application Area(s): Civil/Structural Engineering

Search all poster abstracts here.

Stay tuned for more photos from Research Expo 2016!