Storybook app integrates video of sign language for the deaf and hard of hearing

iStorytime has made a new app for reading with children, Danny the Dragon. It's not the content of the storybook, however that's got us excited. This app for iPhone and iPad is one of the first (if not the first) to include video of the story being read with sign language enhancement. Now, if you're expecting something super slick or high tech, you've come to the wrong place. This app incorporates simple videos of the story being read, and a woman signing along. Still, it's a pretty great use of applications, the power of mobile devices, and the app store ecosystem. Video of the app in action is below.

[ChrisK15 Posted Aug 13th 2010 12:16PM]

Cool, but since it's text already, wouldn't sign language be redundant? I guess for learning signs it'd be useful.

[sweetrice80 Posted Aug 13th 2010 12:31PM]

@ChrisK15
American Sign Language (ASL) is a lot different from English. I coach Baseball at a Deaf school and I often time see my kids write "you food eat" meaning are "you going to eat food" the "to" and "going" is within the sign it self, in face expressions and body language such as turning the body to dictate who "you" is. The best practice for a deaf child is to have both ASL and English (written English not spoken); by reading alot. This could be a helpful application to bridge that gap.

[Leobons Posted Aug 13th 2010 12:31PM]

@ChrisK15 Most children the age for which the book is intended don't know how to read that's why adults have to read for them or use sign language if they are deaf.

[sweetrice80 Posted Aug 13th 2010 12:34PM]

@sweetrice80
Just in case anyone is really interested:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Sign_Language_grammar

Although I tend to shy away from wikipedia, for the most part (from what I can see) this wiki on ASL grammar is pretty good.

[Taller Posted Aug 13th 2010 12:40PM]

@sweetrice80 don't be shy, it has about the same amount of mistakes as the encyclopedia britannica...so all this wiki is a POS thing, gets old.

[finch106 Posted Aug 13th 2010 12:29PM]

Exactly. What purpose does sign language serve if the people READING the book don't need to hear it being read? That or the app is just stories being read, which is a ridiculous waste of app store property.

[d0mth0ma5 Posted Aug 13th 2010 12:32PM]

@finch106 Because there is limited space in the App Store?!

[Tegdagne Posted Aug 13th 2010 12:33PM]

Is Jason on Danny's nose?

[fourthletter Posted Aug 13th 2010 12:34PM]

So can deaf people not read now either ?

[d0mth0ma5 Posted Aug 13th 2010 12:38PM]

@fourthletter Apparently you can't read the comments higher up (posted before you).
"Leobons - @ChrisK15 Most children the age for which the book is intended don't know how to read that's why adults have to read for them or use sign language if they are deaf."

[BQ Ninja Posted Aug 13th 2010 12:45PM]

As someone with a deaf sibling, I find this very interesting and useful. I guarantee my brother would prefer seeing this in sign language as opposed to reading it - remember, sign language is much more like speaking as opposed to reading than you might think.

[Daffyd Posted Aug 14th 2010 2:47AM]

Would be nice if Engadget hadn't made it seem like the iPhone version has an interpreter. I learned the hard way after wasting money on this app, unfortunately.

[cdf74dc9 Posted Aug 15th 2010 1:30AM]

@ Storybook app integrates video of sign language for the deaf and hard of hearing.

All the more reason to charge the unfortunate a small fees. The words are there people! Try reading it.

[Dell Discount Posted Aug 15th 2010 3:55PM]

What a fantastic idea!