ASL by Cell Phone

Researchers at the University of Washington developed software allowing users to talk to each other using ASL over cell phones. The researchers have succeeded in making project a reality. They’ve received a grant from National Science Foundation that will allow them to conduct a 20-person field project in Seattle next year according to ScienceDaily.
Many deaf people have expressed excitement with the project. They feel ASL cell phone communication works faster than text messaging plus it does a better job of letting users show their emotions. I guess smilies have their limits.
It’s great to see such an advancement and I know the Deaf community will eagerly follow the programs in hopes of getting their hands on MobileASL. Meanwhile, oralists like me won’t be able to do much with it. Lips are much smaller than hands on a cell phone screen. Besides, lipreading people on television doesn’t come easy. So it certainly won’t be better on a tiny screen.
See the phones in action in the video below. Cool stuff.