Those who are speech and hearing impaired use sign language to communicate with others. But since not many know how to decipher the sign language, it becomes a barrier. We have come across some gadgets in the market to help such people communicate better.

Three Ukrainian students have invented sensory gloves that work with an app to turn sign language into automated speech. They have also won first place in Microsoft’s Imagine Cup 2012 with this ‘Enable Talk Glove’ project.

Each glove has 15 flex sensors that can decipher hand motions in the air, essentially enabling a speech impaired person to communicate easily with a person who is not good at the sign language. The team uses Microsoft’s Speech and Bing APIs to translate and play what’s been signed.

The model of gloves that has been developed also uses modern microcontroller, accelerometer, gyroscope, and a compass in order to define the position of the glove in space, a Bluetooth module for data transmission from the gloves to a mobile device and a USB-port for the synchronization with the PC and for charging the Li-ion battery that provides power.

The developers say the glove is also fitted with a solar panel to provide for longer intervals between charging and out of concern for environment.

The Enable Talk Gloves prototype is available for $50, which should come down when it goes for mass production.