top of page
Blog


The Clarification: What “Real-Time Generative AI” Actually Means
“Real-time generative AI” is often misunderstood. Real-time = fast response Generative = creates output AI = automated decision-making software Put together, real-time generative AI means: ➡️ The system can generate content immediately when triggered. What it does not automatically mean: ❌ It understands language ❌ It interprets meaning or intent ❌ It handles live, free-form communication ❌ It performs true translation ❌ It manages unexpected situations Speed ≠ understan
Tim Scannell
Jan 141 min read


Funding or commissioning sign-language AI? A clarity check first.
Sign-language AI is often discussed as a single capability, but in practice, it encompasses very different types of tools , each with distinct levels of maturity, risk, and impact. Before funding or adopting any solution, it’s important to be clear about: What type of system is actually being proposed whether it supports one-way translation (e.g. text or speech → signed output) or claims bi-directional translation (signed input ↔ text or speech) What remains human-led ver
Tim Scannell
Jan 91 min read


Deaf- and Sign-Language-Led Authority in 2026
A Deaf- and Sign-Language-Led authority is needed in sign language AI — now. As AI systems involving sign language become more visible, progress alone is no longer enough. What is increasingly missing from the conversation is linguistic authority . Sign languages are not motion systems. They are full languages , dependent on: manual dexterity spatial grammar context culture lived Deaf expertise Without Deaf-led authority, AI risks producing outputs that are technically imp
Tim Scannell
Jan 51 min read


💡 AI + Sign Language: Building Tools That Truly Understand
Recently, I’ve seen growing interest in tools like Sign-Speak and SignGemma — both exploring how AI can better understand sign language, not just display it. 🧠 Sign-Speak focuses on real-time sign-to-text and sign-to-voice translation, giving Deaf users and interpreters more direct ways to communicate.🤖 SignGemma , from Google DeepMind, explores sign language recognition using large-scale AI models. Out there, we already see many providers creating audio-to-text , tex
Tim Scannell
Nov 12, 20251 min read


🧭 Before You Invest: The Ethical AI-BSL Checklist
AI has the potential to enhance accessibility, but without rigorous ethical oversight and Deaf leadership , it risks deepening linguistic inequality—the new Digital Milan . For any hearing or non-signing organisation planning to buy, fund, or promote an "AI Sign Language" product, due diligence is mandatory. Before you fund, buy, or promote an "AI Sign Language" tool, you must ask these 7 Questions. AI innovation without ethical governance leads to Language Injustice . We nee
Tim Scannell
Nov 8, 20252 min read


🧠 Final Reflection on AI, BSL, & Language Justice: We Must Not Repeat History.
Hearing-led control over Deaf Language and knowledge. Languages never colonised again. Over the past year, my research has explored how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming access to British Sign Language (BSL) . What I found confirms a critical truth: BSL is a living language , not just data, and its interface with AI is fundamentally about language power and equality. Too often, AI projects risk repeating historical mistakes—a pattern I call Digital Milan: Innovat
Tim Scannell
Nov 8, 20251 min read


🎥 Bodycam vs Drone vs AI Robot — The Future of Sign Language Accessibility
As a Deaf BSL user who wears a bodycam, I’ve thought a lot about how technology could better capture sign language communication for accessibility and evidence. Here’s a quick breakdown of three options: 1. Bodycam 🎥 Pros: Worn on your body, capturing what you see. Simple and portable. Cons: Misses “middle zone” — your hands and signing are often out of frame. Limited to one fixed perspective. Audio-focused; not designed for sign language. 2. Drone 🛸 Pros: Flexible, can h
Tim Scannell
Oct 1, 20251 min read


Sign Language in the Era of Artificial Intelligence - A Turning Point for Deaf Rights
The European Union of the Deaf (EUD) has released a landmark report, “Sign Language in the Era of Artificial Intelligence.” It’s part...
Tim Scannell
Aug 15, 20253 min read
🖐 AI & Sign Languages: Why Deaf-Led Safeguards Matter
2025 is shaping up to be a turning point in how AI intersects with sign languages. Recent publications highlight a common theme: Irish...
Tim Scannell
Aug 13, 20251 min read


🧏♀️🌍 AI is changing search – but will it help Deaf people learn sign languages too?
This month, a major tech company launched a new ‘AI mode’ for search in the UK. It gives you fast answers in a friendly, chat-like way —...
Tim Scannell
Jul 29, 20251 min read
🗞️ Deaf Community Update: From Norwich Airport to AI and Education
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been actively engaged in critical conversations on accessibility , Deaf leadership , and the role of...
Tim Scannell
Jul 8, 20253 min read


"AI With Us, Not About Us: Deaf Leadership, Sign Languages, and the Future of Human-Centered Technology"
📺 I watched EUD TV – Series 1 Episode 2 – AI, Sign Languages and our Digital Future . I am pleased this important conversation is...
Tim Scannell
Jul 3, 20251 min read


🚆 AI and BSL Accessibility in UK Train Stations
What’s happening now—and the road ahead 🎥🤟 As a Deaf BSL user, advocate, and researcher, I’ve been exploring the rollout of...
Tim Scannell
Jun 29, 20251 min read


If AI Claims to Understand Sign Language, It Must Be Held to Human Standards
🧭 Guiding Premise If AI tools claim to understand, translate, or mediate sign language communication, then they must meet human-level...
Tim Scannell
Jun 29, 20252 min read
Deaf Voices Matter in AI Development 🧏♀️🤖
Over the past few weeks, members of the Deaf community, including native BSL users, have tried to share feedback with an AI company...
Tim Scannell
May 16, 20251 min read
🔑 Accessibility for All: A Game-Changer for Deaf & Disabled Communities
As we continue to push for greater inclusion, it’s clear that true accessibility goes beyond slogans and PR campaigns. It’s about...
Tim Scannell
Mar 18, 20251 min read


🚀 AI vs. Human Translators in Sign Language: Can You Tell the Difference? 🤖✋
As AI-powered Sign Language Recognition (SLR) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) evolve, we’re breaking down communication barriers....
Tim Scannell
Mar 7, 20252 min read
bottom of page





