SignBridge

Bridging Communication, Empowering Education

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Inspiration

My sister teaches deaf students at an NGO. One day, she shared how before teaching any topic, she first has to learn it in sign language using large, complex reference books. That conversation opened my eyes to a much larger issue. In India, there are over 18 lakh hearing-impaired students but only around 200 to 300 certified sign language interpreters and very few trained teachers. Because of this severe shortage, many deaf students are excluded from mainstream education and struggle to access quality learning. This gap inspired us to create SignBridge, a platform that makes learning inclusive by bridging the communication barrier between teachers and hearing-impaired students.

What it does

SignBridge converts spoken and written educational content into Indian Sign Language using a 3D animated avatar. Teachers can upload their notes in PDF or text format on the web platform, which automatically translates them into sign language for students. In live classrooms, a Chrome extension captures the teacher’s speech and displays the corresponding ISL signs using 3D avatar in real time on the student’s browser with no setup required. Through this, deaf students can learn alongside their peers without facing communication barriers.

How we built it

We built the platform using React.js for the interface and Firebase for data storage. The 3D avatar was designed to perform ISL gestures and integrated with a speech-to-text transcription system for real-time translation. Our team worked together to make the system easy to use, accessible, and visually clear for students.

Challenges we ran into

One of the biggest challenges was synchronizing the 3D avatar gestures with real-time translated text and speech. We also faced difficulties in ensuring smooth performance while running animations directly in the browser. Another challenge was making the tool intuitive for teachers so that they could use it without any technical background. After several iterations, we found the right balance between accuracy, design, and accessibility.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We successfully built a working prototype that can translate both notes and live speech into Indian Sign Language. The 3D avatar-based interface makes lessons more engaging and interactive for deaf students. We also received encouraging feedback from teachers and NGOs who believe SignBridge has real potential to make classrooms more inclusive.

What we learned

Through this project, we learned that true innovation in education starts with empathy. We understood how accessibility-focused design can empower teachers and students alike. Building SignBridge taught us how technology can promote inclusivity and help bridge communication gaps in real learning environments.

What's next for SignBridge We aim to build offline access for schools with limited connectivity. Our next step is to collaborate with NGOs and inclusive schools to pilot SignBridge in real classrooms and gather student feedback. Our long-term vision is to make sure that no deaf student is ever left behind in education.

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