Technology is rapidly transforming the landscape of communication access. From artificial intelligence and wearable devices to advancements in virtual meeting platforms, new tools are constantly emerging that promise to enhance language access for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities. Navigating these innovations requires a discerning eye to separate genuine breakthroughs from fleeting trends and to understand the real-world impact on users. This section of our blog is your curated guide to the intersection of technology and ASL interpreting.
Here, we explore and analyze the latest technological advancements relevant to the interpreting profession and the communities we serve. You will find in-depth reviews of new accessibility apps, discussions on the role of AI in sign language translation, and practical guides to leveraging communication devices for more effective access. We provide a balanced perspective, celebrating true innovation while also critically examining the limitations of technology and affirming the irreplaceable value of human connection and professional expertise.
Whether you are a technology enthusiast, an accessibility advocate, or a professional seeking to understand the tools that are shaping the future, this is your resource. Our goal is to keep you informed about the most important developments and to foster a conversation about how technology can best be harnessed to build a more connected and accessible world.
2025 is bringing groundbreaking ASL technologies to life, from AI translation and live captioning to wearable fingerspelling tools. This mid-year review explores what is really working and what still needs a human touch to ensure true communication access.
The debate around a technological “cure” for deafness presumes it is a bug to be patched. This view misses that Deafness is a culture and that communication is a human art. Technology cannot replace the empathy, context, and nuance a human ASL interpreter provides.
Veo 3 from Google is an amazing tool with advanced video generation capabilities, but can it be used to create accurate and culturally appropriate ASL videos? Let’s analyze how well it handles the complexities of American Sign Language, including handshape accuracy, facial expressions, fluency, and cultural relevance.