Sign Translator Glove Documentation

Abstract

This paper presents the design and implementation of a low-cost sign translator glove, a wearable device capable of detecting basic hand gestures and converting them into spoken words in real time. The system relies on five flex sensors positioned along the fingers, an Arduino Nano acting as the central controller, and a DFPlayer Mini module connected to a small speaker for audio output. Each finger's position is read as an analog signal, compared against a predefined threshold, and mapped to a specific gesture, which subsequently triggers a corresponding pre-recorded audio clip. The objective of this project was to develop an affordable, reproducible piece of assistive technology that could facilitate communication for individuals who rely on sign language when interacting with people unfamiliar with it. This documentation outlines the theoretical background of the project, the hardware and software implementation, the operating principles of the device, and potential directions for future development.