Delhi University students' app helps deaf people enjoy heritage tours

15.02.2017
A group of Delhi University (DU) students have created a mobile app to help hearing-impaired people enjoy personalised tours of historical monuments and heritage sites in the city. The app comes with its own sign interpreter, providing all the information required.

"We have only 250 certified interpreters all over the country for a population of over 18 million hearing-impaired people," says Manish Narayan, 24, BA (H), Social Sciences student. Narayan, who is specialising in Historical Tourism, and his three friends from the Cluster Innovation Centre (CIC) created the app — Sign My Tour. "The app is user-friendly and gives all the basic information to people who cannot hear a tour guide and have difficulty reading text," he adds.

At present, the app is Android-friendly and has listed three heritage sites — Qutub Minar, Red Fort, and Humayun's Tomb — with options for both short and long tours. The short tour option is 12-15 minutes long and includes a brief about the monument and its history. The long tour is over 30 minutes long and provides more details about the place and its history.

"We plan to include 50 more monuments by the end of 2017. Some of the less popular sites, such as Jantar Mantar, Old Fort, Feroz Shah Kotla, and Tughlaqabad Fort will also be included," Narayan says. The team has now approached the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) with the project details to get funding for the plan.

Before launching the app, the CIC innovators' team, along with an interpreter from the National Association of Deaf (NAD), took a group of hearing-impaired people to Humayun's Tomb for an initial reaction.

"The response was beyond heartwarming for all of us working on the project. All the participants said they had never had such an experience while visiting heritage sites before and looked forward to more such tours," says Surbhi Taneja, an interpreter, who has been freelancing for NAD since 2010 and has been associated with the organisation since she was 10 years old as both her parents are hearing-impaired. Currently, she is also working full-time with the Skill Council for Persons with Disability (SPCWD).

"In 45 years of, I never did not know anything about the Mughals. I knew that Humayun's Tomb existed, but I got real access into that world for the first time," says Anuj Jain, a NAD person with disability.

Meanwhile, the CIC members have launched a company called DeafCom, which is looking at designing more such apps to make the life of people with hearing disabilities more comfortable. "This is an attempt to provide these people with some leisure time," says Narayan.

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Hearing impaired can enjoy heritage tours with new app

19.02.2017, New Delhi: 

Aiming to make a difference in the lives of the hearing-impaired people through technology, a group of Delhi University students have created a mobile application that helps the deaf across the country to enjoy heritage tours.

Deaf Com, a company run by four students that is housed in the incubation centre of the varsity’s Cluster Innovation Centre (CIC), created the app “Sign my Tour.” The user-friendly app provides all the required information to people who cannot hear a tour guide and even have difficulty reading the text.

According to one of the founders, Manish Narayan, there are over 18 million hearing-impaired people in the country and as of now, they only have 250 certified interpreters.

“We are planning to have more interpreters with us in the coming years. We launched this app to make the deaf and mute people across India comfortable while accessing famous monuments through their smartphones,” said Mr Narayan, a historical tourism student from CIC.

Currently, the app has listed three heritage sites including Red Fort, Qutub Minar, and Humayun’s Tomb with options for both short and long hours.

While the short tour option is 12-15 minutes long and includes a brief about the monument and its history, the long tour is over 30 minutes long and provides more details about the place and its history.

The CIC team, along with an interpreter from the National Association of Deaf (NAD), had taken a group of deaf people to Humayun’s Tomb for an initial reaction, before launching the app

Should Nationalism Influence The Choice Of One’s Sign Language?

Is language more important or communication?

At times, I wonder what has been the most important accomplishment of the human species. We read in school that the lighting of fire and the invention of wheel was the stepping stone for the modern human species. More recently, it was the industrial revolution, the landing of a human on the moon, the invention of the internet and the mobile phone. This is what I understand and know about.

However, I will add one more item to this list. Ability to communicate to a fellow being in a language. Language brings us closer and portrays our unique identity to the outside world.

Unfortunately, love for language, at times, brings out the worst in us. It becomes more of a tool to create divisions. It becomes more important to promote a particular language and not the essence of communication. Division and discord are created on the basis of language, even though the very purpose of the existence of language is to connect, engage and empower.

We have seen this being played out in regional politics so many times. That said, the influence of such discussions is reflected even in sign language. Instead of promoting one common sign language to bring more people on a common platform, we are creating differences which are inclined towards jingoism and beat any logical application. This is what baffles me when I hear or read about the unnecessary conflict between the American Sign Language (ASL) and the Indian Sign Language (ISL).

Sign language came up in the West, and ideally, we should pick it up as it is. To ensure we do not create any distinction which can hamper our ability to communicate. The logic given behind the promotion of ISL is that since you are an Indian, you should do signs only in ISL.

Then why not have our own Indian French language, Indian German language, or even an Indian English language. It just does not make sense. Why will I create barriers to communication, when there shouldn’t be any? Instead of working on creating signs for languages which don’t have one? I believe a lot of Indian regional languages don’t have exhaustive sign vocabulary and we should work on them. All of our regional language signs from Kashmir, Kerala, Gujarat and Meghalaya can be a part of the Indian Sign Language repository.

Let us not try to reinvent the wheel here and leave the English sign language as it is. Let’s learn from it and not create multiple versions of it.

A couple of years back while I was walking down a lane, I could see few kids smiling and giggling. I wondered if they were laughing at me. When I observed closely, I realised that they were not just smiling and giggling, but also communicating with the help of sign language. Yes, this was my first so-called close encounter with deaf people.

I was working with iVolunteer then and used to work closely with many NGOs, including the Association of People with Disability (APD). A few days later, I got a call from one of our active volunteers. I was asked if I could learn sign language. I said, “Wow! Why not?” The next step was to find out who could teach us. I approached APD. Yes, we started learning sign language.

It was my introduction to a whole new community, a new language and yes, a language full of expressions and emotions. I could so connect with the saying, ‘patriotism needs no language’. I discovered that it wasn’t just about knowing the language, it was important to have the passion to communicate. Expressions and emotions are a very important part of the language. I was happy to have learnt basic sign language.

After a year or two, iVolunteer moved closer to Enable India and I committed to teach accounts to the non-voice BPO training batch. Slowly, I started connecting more with the deaf community, started promoting sign language by encouraging more and more volunteers to learn sign language. When I initially sarted signing, I was asked various questions. Are you deaf? Is anyone in your family deaf? If not, why are you signing? Why have you learnt sign language?

I so wanted to change the notion that people learning sign language is necessarily because of them being deaf. We just want everyone to be part of one society.

Similar to regional languages, I’ve realised we have many sign languages as well. I ended up excelling in American Sign Language as many deaf people in Bangalore use ASL. I have done many workshops, including one on communication classes for the deaf, where all modes of communications such as the ASL, ISL, lip reading and presentations are utilised.

Recently, I also started getting messages to learn ISL. Yes, I do love it and I am learning that too. Not because I am forced to, but because I want to communicate with many more deaf people across the country. Recently, we did a workshop for Vijaya Bank employees, where we had some 20 deaf people across India (who use ASL, ISL, lip reading ), and also a deaf-blind who used ASL plus braille.

I am really proud of my team, as we were able to communicate with all and did not restrict ourself to the Indian sign language. Yes, I am a proud Indian who respects my country, my culture and the people. Yet, I am also an Indian who respects every person as a human first. The respect isn’t based on whether he or she speaks in Hindi or ISL.

I hope you all are understanding what I am saying. Please note that communication is important. In rural areas, people don’t even know ASL or ISL. We met deaf-blind people who couldn’t communicate much. I can’t tell him to go and learn ISL, and then come. We must give importance and respect to every person and all languages.

I am learning both ASL and ISL because I want to communicate with all. Yet, when people force people to be familiar with a particular sign language and don’t respect other languages, I feel sad. Really sad. I remember my dad taught quick Maths to 3-4 batches of students. He neither knew ASL nor ISl. He never used an interpreter either. His board and expressions were enough. Many of his students still remember him and have got jobs in banks, etc.

How would you communicate with the deaf and blind? I love it when I communicate with Pradip or Raman, who are deaf-blind. I can’t tell them to stop communicating because they do not use ISL. They have taken ages to learn and become independent in life. This should not be happening. I get motivated to do more for a cause when I see the impact taking place. Yet, such messages do pull me down. I am sure few of you may hate me for this, but I request you all to please take a step to appreciate what volunteers, social workers and NGOs are doing towards awareness and development, rather than pointing fingers on languages!

If you speak in ISL, I will respect and communicate in it, but if any deaf person communicates in ASL, I will also respond to him. It’s just like any other language. Today, many deaf people have got jobs in American companies. Many deaf people working in Indian companies have American clients. Do we stop doing business or stop working and become jobless due to a language barrier? Or do we act in matured way, grow as a person? Both personally and professionally. I am not here to prove that one sign language is better than the other. All that I am trying to convey is that communication is important. Use whatever mode and whichever language.

I end this blog with this thought again. Respect people and communication, not language.

Lots of hopes,

Prarthana

Founder, Giftabled

Usha Deaf IPL 2017: AICAD XI emerge winners of the tournament

15.02.2017
What’s the story?

Usha International, one of India’s leading consumer durables company continued its association with All India Cricket Association for the Deaf (AICAD) and Deaf Cricket Federation, Punjab for the second edition of Usha Deaf IPL. A three-day tournament held between February 8 & 10, 2017, whose final took place at Lovely Professional University, Phagwara was won by the AICAD XI.

“Usha International is proud to be associated with such a wonderful endeavour in its second season. We at Usha care for people and are committed to promote sports and an active lifestyle, across all demographics and help to provide a platform not only to the youth but also for the differently abled sports enthusiasts.

“With more than 250 hearing and speech impaired cricketers from India and abroad participating this year, we are honoured to be part of such an endeavour,” said Ms. Komal Mehra, Events Head, Usha International.
In case you didn’t know...

The first edition of Deaf IPL was held in 2014. More than 250 deaf cricketers from India and countries like the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal participated this year and proved that they are no less than a non-deaf cricketer.

The heart of the matter

The Final match was played between AICAD XI and Ravi XI. Team AICAD XI emerged victorious by 2 wickets and lifted the Usha Deaf IPL 2017 Trophy.

After winning the toss, AICAD XI chose to bowl and restricted Ravi XI to a score of 112, picking up 7 wickets in 20 overs. Karan Vinde from AICAD XI took 3 wickets in 3 overs and leaked only 12 runs. Chasing the target, Kareemuddin and T.Harikrishna from AICAD XI scored 25 runs each. Pankaj Kumar from Ravi XI took 4 wickets in 4 overs.

Abhishek Singh of Ravi XI was selected as the Man of the Match and the Man of the Series for his outstanding performances in the match and throughout the tournament.
Binay Kumar Jha Chief Commissioner Income Tax, Ludhiana graced the occasion as the chief guest.

Six teams participated in the tournament, namely Satluj XI, Ravi XI, Chenab XI, Beas XI, Jhelum XI and AICAD XI. A total of 250 players from 23 states, participated in the tournament. and many of these players have also represented India as part of the Indian Deaf cricket team.
What's next?

26 probable for Deaf Asia Cup 2017 to be held in Hyderabad starting from February 25 were also announced later in the evening. A list of total 42 players was made and taken up for the camp from where players were shortlisted for the Deaf Asia Cup and for the Deaf World Cup 2017 expected to happen at the end of the year.

‘Mr & Miss Deaf India’ contest today

19.02.2017
Indore : Indore Deaf Bilingual Academy along with All India Deaf Art and Culture Society is organising ‘Mr and Miss Deaf India’ at Emerald Heights International School on Sunday.

Academy president Murlidhar Dhamani said, “The winners will represent India in international event to be held in July.” A team of 20 contestants has been training under Monika Punjabi Verma since a month for the event.

Aby is cleared to take off!

28.01.2017
Seems like the tussle between the makers of Aby and Vimanam - both aviation themed films - is coming to a close!

Earlier, the team of Prithviraj-starrer Vimanam had filed a temporary injunction at the Munsiff court staying the release of Vineeth Sreenivasan's Aby citing that the latter was inspired from the real-life story of hearing and speech-impaired Saji M Thomas. Thodupuzha-based Saji had shot to fame after making an ultra-light aircraft all by himself.

However, the injuction was dismissed on Friday by justice Ravisankar. "The judge read Aby's screenplay, watched the film and considered plaintiff Saji's arguments that the movie is inspired from his life, and found them invalid," says Aby director Srikant Murali. "I am happy that the court has dismissed in the injunction and allowed the film to release."

A source close to Aby's team tells us Vimanam team's arguments were based on two claims - personality and publicity rights.

"Saji's advocate argued that the movie should not be allowed to release as it violates personality rights. However, the judge was convinced that Aby bore no resemblance to Saji's life," she says. "Above all the rights to make a movie on Saji's life were been acquired by the Vimanam team after the film Aby was announced last year."

Another bone of contention was that two films based on similar theme of making aircrafts should not be allowed. "That argument too didn't hold up in court as everybody has the right to make movies based on any theme they deem fit. Just because the films have one common element, people cannot demand to halt the release," she says.

Meanwhile Vimanam director Pradeep M Nair says that he is not completely content with the decision and might consider approaching higher courts.

"Though we didn't submit our script to court, we had enough points to argue as we found a lot of similarities with Saji's life based on the Aby's trailer," he says. "Also, I don't understand why the complainant was not allowed to watch the movie before the judgment. However, as the judge has found that there is no resemblance, I respect the verdict."

On how the decision will affect his film Vimanam, Pradeep says, "Mine is a big budget movie, which I have been dreaming of doing since years. If another film with a similar theme is released, it would rob our film off the novelty in the subject. However, that being said, both Prithviraj and Vineeth bring two different acting styles to the table and that could make all the difference now."

Nikhil Malik's ode to the deaf community with his new single

20.01.2017
MUMBAI: Composer Nikhil Malik says his new single ‘Boring I Love You’ -- shot with differently-abled youngsters -- is for the deaf community.

He added that he will be glad if even one deaf person understands the meaning of the song.

Malik came out with the single as a collaborative project with Raghav Meattle under Meattle & Malik.

"The reason why I chose to execute this particular idea at this time was because I was sick of my Facebook news feed. I was just thinking along the lines of 'What does it actually take to do a good deed rather than complain about bad things happening around us and the world?' That was my inspiration," Malik told IANS.

He added: "I made this video for the deaf community. That was all I was chasing. If one deaf person watches this video and says he understood the meaning of the song, it means the world to me."

Malik says he worked with Ruma Roka, the founder of Noida Deaf Society, for the video.

He said: "She was curious to know why I wanted to make such a video and was very happy to find out that I was making it only for the deaf community. She introduced me to one of their interpreters Gaurav Rana, who taught the sign language for our lyrics to the kids. We spent about two weeks teaching and rehearsing with the kids.

"The most crucial part was timing their signs with the lyrics. It was quite a challenge since they can't hear music, so it becomes quite a challenge to sync their signs with the lyrics."

What's next for him?

Some big international collaborations, he says.

"With Meattle & Malik, there's another track we've been working. Since 2013, it’s nothing like our previous stuff. Also, I have a few other music videos lined up and possibly a hip-hop album with the producers behind Kendrick Lamar and Kanye West. At the studio, we're working on an album that could possibly put us behind bars," Malik said.