I discuss the use of AI-generated British Sign Language on train information screens in Scotland. This technology addresses the lower literacy rates among deaf individuals by providing more accessible communication. The initiative is cost-effective and highlights the importance of inclusivity in digital mediums.

AI-Generated Sign Language for Enhanced Accessibility

Finally a screen that speaks everyone's language. So if you've traveled on a train in Scotland recently you may have seen on the screen with all the information a person using British Sign Language to communicate to deaf commuters. Now when this video went out on Twitter or X as you may call it, it had a bit of pushback people saying that this was woke because why can't the deaf people just read this information on the screen anyway? Actually the actor is AI generated so the budget for this was actually very low. But the real reason was something that I think most able-bodied people don't realize. Deaf people on the whole have a much lower literacy rate than people who can hear. So understanding sign language is something that means they will be able to understand the information that's written on the screen way more than your average user could. Because this is AI generated there's almost no budgetary concern. So I think this is actually a genuine sign of genius and really leaning into the fact that we are not all made the same. And if we use a digital medium properly then we can be more accessible to everyone. Now who really has a problem with that? Five out of five clearly.