Effect of MobileASL on communication among deaf users

MobileASL, a software program enabling sign-language video on mobile devices over conventional U.S. cellular networks, was evaluated in a three-week field study during the summer of 2010. Through a series of interviews, questionnaires, and a focus group, we asked participants about their behavior with and perceptions of MobileASL. In addition, we used ondevice experience sampling and usage logging to observe how MobileASL was used. Initial results indicate that although participants felt that MobileASL’s short battery life limited its use, participants took advantage of the mobility of the technology and used it for in-the-moment information gathering in places like buses, restaurants, and shopping areas. Keywords Mobile phones, video telephony, field study, American Sign Language, Deaf community. ACM Classification Keywords

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2011
• Where: CHI
• Authors: Joy Kim, Jessica J. Tran, Tressa W. Johnson, Richard E. Ladner, Eve A. Riskin, Jacob O. Wobbrock
• Keywords: American Sign Language, CHI 2011, Deaf Community, Human Computer Interaction, U S Cellular