HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

141

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII STUDY THE COST AND FEASIBILITY OF USING AVATAR TECHNOLOGY TO DEVELOP LAPTOP COMPUTERS FOR INSTANTANEOUS TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION SYSTEMS FOR THE DEAF AND HEARING-IMPAIRED.

 

WHEREAS, there is a serious shortage of qualified American Sign Language interpreters in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the shortage of sign language interpreters affects the State's ability to meet its obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act; and

WHEREAS, the shortage and high cost of qualified sign language interpreters places severe limits on the employability of the deaf and hearing-impaired, and on their ability to participate equally in public life; and

WHEREAS, the inability of the deaf and hearing-impaired to participate fully in public life raises costs for all disability-related services and reduces tax revenue from persons who could otherwise be gainfully employed; and

WHEREAS, the Disability and Communication Access Board within the Department of Health is charged with reviewing and assessing the problems, and serving as a public advocate for the needs, of persons with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii is a leader in languages and computer science and has excellent resources in these areas that can be used locally to address the problems for the deaf and hearing-impaired caused by the shortage of qualified sign language interpreters; and

WHEREAS, private business interests are already working with three-dimensional animation ("Avatars") that could be developed into "interpreter-in-a-laptop" products deployed in EVDO-enabled laptop computers; and

WHEREAS, dynamic public-private partnerships between the University of Hawaii and private business partners could expedite the development and application of Avatar technology for sign language translation and interpretation; and

WHEREAS, instantaneous English-American Sign Language translation and interpretation systems should find a ready market if they could be distributed as needed in a portable laptop platform; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, that the University of Hawaii is requested to study the technological feasibility, cost, and market potential of using Avatar technology to develop laptop computers for sign-language translation and interpretation systems for the deaf and hearing-impaired; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University of Hawaii is requested to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature at least twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to President of the University of Hawaii, the Director of Health, the Director of Human Services, and the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Deaf; Hearing-Impaired; Disability; Sign Language; Interpreters; Laptop Computers; Avatar