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Tim Scannell, Accessibility Consultant:
Enhancing Access for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing by Focusing on Sign Language, Digital Accessibility, and Information Access for Everyone.
From Concerns to Conversations: Reflections on a Changing Sign Language AI Landscape
Thank you to the European Union of the Deaf (EUD) for bringing these important discussions into the public conversation. EUD's Linkedin Post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/european-union-of-the-deaf_deafrights-signlanguage-ai-activity-7468595259296497666-_fR2?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAfVDxEBUlYb7g-FMydDz_Dy9BiPrexkXwM Over the past year, I have devoted a significant amount of time to reading research papers, books, reports, conference presentations
Tim Scannell
5 days ago3 min read
AI with Sign Language Must Be Deaf-Led, Independent, and Accountable
A welcome step from WFD This morning, I welcomed the WFD (World Federation of the Deaf) LinkedIn post about its Ad Hoc Group on Artificial Intelligence. I praise WFD for recognising that AI must be approached through human rights, accessibility, inclusion, and sign language perspectives. That is an important step forward. I hope this leads to trusted global leadership and real protection for Deaf communities as AI continues to develop at speed. Looking for country-level actio
Tim Scannell
Apr 16 min read
AI Can Follow a Speaker. Human Interpreters Follow the Discussion.
Artificial intelligence is developing fast, but live interpreting shows exactly where its limits still are. For prepared speeches, AI-generated sign language can look impressive. It performs best when the language is structured, the content is predictable, and the system operates on clean input. But conferences are rarely that simple. Live panels are unpredictable. Speakers interrupt each other. They react in the moment. They change direction. They overlap. They leave thought
Tim Scannell
Mar 171 min read
BSL must not become vague. BSL must remain clear, accurate, and protected — before, during, and after AI.
On Sunday , 16 February , I published a blog post on “blurring the handshape.” The central point was simple: When the handshape is blurred, the meaning is blurred. This is not a minor technical issue. It is: a language integrity issue, an accessibility issue, and a Deaf rights issue. AI-generated signing is increasingly being presented as “accessibility.” However, sign language access is not merely visual output on a screen. Sign language access is a conversation. It dep
Tim Scannell
Feb 243 min read
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