SignPlay: helping families learn Auslan when everyday counts

University
University of Sydney
Awards category
The Community Champion Award
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For deaf children, the early years are a critical window for languagedevelopment. Yet more than 90 per cent are born to hearing parents who do notknow Auslan, and many families wait for months to access lessons and support.

SignPlay was created to help families start learning sooner. Developedby the University of Sydney and Deaf Connect, the mobile app uses AI-poweredsign recognition to provide instant feedback, helping parents practise Auslanconfidently between lessons.

Unlike videos or flashcards that simply demonstrate signs, SignPlay cantell users whether they are signing correctly. Through short, game-basedactivities, families can learn at their own pace and build skills in themoments that fit around everyday life.

By extending the reach of scarce teachingresources, SignPlay is helping more deaf children access language, connectionand opportunity during the years that matter most.

The SignPlay research platform and Auslan video dataset used to train the AI recognition model. More than 250,000 videos covering 2,000 Auslan signs were collected with members of the Deaf community, creating the largest real-world Auslan dataset assembled to support sign language learning and recognition.

The SignPlay team working together to refine the user experience and learning activities. The platform was co-designed to make Auslan learning more accessible, engaging and effective for families learning sign language with their Deaf children. Photo credit: The University of Sydney

A user practises Auslan using the SignPlay mobile platform. By providing immediate feedback through AI-powered sign recognition, SignPlay helps families build confidence in their signing and continue learning between formal lessons.

An infographic for "SignPlay". The top section pairs illustrations of a mother practising signs on her device and her reading a bedtime story to her child using signs. The bottom section aligns the smartphone screens side by side: the categorised level menu for "Zip Zap Hands" on the left and the "Auslan Practice" screen on the right, which shows live structural hand-tracking feedback.

A member of the SignPlay team reviews the AI-powered sign recognition system alongside the Auslan training dataset. The technology is powered by the largest real-world Auslan dataset collected to date, enabling users to receive immediate feedback on their signing through a standard smartphone. Photo credit: The University of Sydney

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