"Two Fingerspelling Keyboard Layouts
for Myanmar Sign Language
with Myanmar SignWriting"

by
Hlaing Myat Nwe
hlaingmyatnwe.nwe@gmail.com

Ye Kyaw Thu
wasedakuma@gmail.com

Hnin Wai Wai Hlaing
hninwaiwaihlaing.ycc@gmail.com

Swe Zin Moe
swezinmoe.1011@gmail.com

Ni Htwe Aung
nhadec@gmail.com

Hnin Aye Thant
hninayethant@gmail.com

Nandar Win Min
nandarwinmin@gmail.com

Affiliations:
University of Technology (Yatanarpon Cyber City),
Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar

Okayama Prefectural University (OPU),
Okayama Prefecture, Japan

Language and Speech Science Research Lab.,
Waseda University, Japan

Yangon Technological University (YTU), Myanmar

ABSTRACT

Sign language is the frst language for the Deaf. The Deaf people could communicate with the hearing people by Sign language. The use of sign language technologies in the interface of computing systems to improve their accessibility for deaf signers. In this paper, we propose two fngerspelling keyboard layouts for typing Myanmar fngerspelling characters with SignWriting. Fingerspelling is used in sign language to spell out names of people and places for which there is not a sign. We discuss the usability of our approach based on the user study and the evaluation results. The evaluations were made in terms of typing speed CPM (Character per Minute) and Likert scale feedbacks from both hearing-impaired and hearing users. The outcome of the research will be useful in implementing Myanmar SignWriting text input interface for Myanmar sign language.