Project Story: ASLearn

Inspiration

The inspiration for the ASLearn came from our passion for both coding and fostering communication inclusivity. As juniors at Stevenson High School, we noticed a growing need for accessible resources to learn ASL for people in the area. We wanted to create a platform that makes learning ASL engaging and effective, bridging communication gaps and promoting understanding between the deaf and hearing communities. Also, recent research allowed us to see that according to the National Census of the Deaf Population, there are about 500,000 Deaf or hard-of-hearing Americans who use ASL. The ratio of Deaf or hard-of-hearing ASL users to ASL interpreters is roughly 50 to 1 and varies depending upon the area, and we hoped we could help with that.

What We Learned

Throughout this project, we gained valuable insights in several areas:

American Sign Language: We deepened our understanding of ASL, its necessity, and cultural significance.
Web Development: We were able to practice our skills in designing and developing a user-friendly website, including HTML, CSS, and basic JavaScript functionalities.
Project Management: We honed our skills in project planning, from brainstorming ideas and setting goals to executing and testing our project.
Problem-Solving: We developed strategies to overcome technical challenges and refine our project's usability.

How We Built the Project

We approached the development of the ASL Learning Hub with a plan for four pages:

OpenCV: We used libraries to create the practice page that uses opencv.
Contact Us: We connected our website to a real time database, so that we can engage with problems and feedback effectively.
Lessons: We were inspired by khanacademy and wanted to make something similar that is engaging for students.
Home: We tried to showcase our web dev skills and refine the page, make it look pretty.

Challenges Faced

During the project, we encountered several challenges:

Technical Issues: We faced difficulties with layout inconsistencies across different devices, requiring troubleshooting and adjustments.
Content Accuracy: Ensuring the accuracy of ASL signs and explanations with the little time we had. Time Management: Balancing the project with the 8 hours we had was difficult, as we are more used to 24-hour periods.