A Search Facility for a New Zealand Sign Language Dictionary

This report is submitted for comp489. It is an honours report on a search facility for a New Zealand sign language dictionary. This search facility is based on the three dimensional representation of motion. The graphical user interface is designed to allow a user to interactively control the character from five different views by using mouse and keyboard. The interactive control techniques allow a user to search for the meaning of a sign by specifying a “broad” description of motion. The motions with similar features will be grouped together. Four example movement shapes have been investigated and implemented. These are, line, curve, circle and a group including wavy and zigzag shapes. A prototype with limited search capabilities has been developed for demonstration and testing.