The amount of apps in the Windows Phone Marketplace
Microsoft's Windows Phone Marketplace has now reported to have passed 25,000 apps by one site tracking comings and goings within it. (source: WindowsPhoneAppslist, July 2011)
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Seems like a waste of money for three reasons:
1. If you have a laptop/PDA/iphone with you, you can look up signs in whatever language you need (ASL, SEL, etc.);
2. If you are trying to learn sign language, you really NEED to take a class--I've tried teaching myself with books and online research, but nothing beats actual conversation with someone who signs well;
3. If you find yourself in a situation where you are interacting with a deaf person and you don't know how to sign, this thing is far less useful than either a)the deaf person's natural lip-reading ability, b)a pad of paper and a pen, or c)a little improvised sign language.
I'm not trying to sound smart; I just don't get the market that they're trying to fill here. Who would use this? Or where?
I agree. This device is no more useful to learning American Sign Language than passing an English dictionary to someone who does not speak English would help them learn language.
Language is not a just bunch of vocabulary words; it has grammar/syntax, cultural rules for appropriate use -- and every language is structured differently. You can't pick up a French dictionary and string some French words together in English word order and say, "I know how to speak French!" The same is true with learning a few signs and putting them together in English word order -- you are not using American Sign Language (ASL).
By the way, I have a MA in Linguistics (ASL) and have been teaching in the field for almost 30 years.
I am also a certified ASL Interpreter, and advocate for the linguistic rights of the Deaf Community. ;)