Martel’s collaborative efforts in the EASIER project have been recognised by the European Commission’s Innovation Radar. The project, coordinated by Martel, performed groundbreaking work on enhancing the multilingual machine translation framework aimed at reducing communication barriers among deaf and hearing individuals. The efforts and achievements have once again been appreciated by the European Commission, with several project outputs spotlighted as key innovations with significant market potential, highlighting our commitment to driving forward technological advancements that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
Revolutionising Accessibility with Advanced Sign Language Technology
The three innovations for which Martel has been recognised are:
- “3D skeletal extraction, hand pose estimation and facial expression, mouth gestures, and mouthing, as well as affect analysis from improving sign language translations” developed with the University of Surrey,
- “Improved avatar technology incorporating mouthing and prosody for deaf users” developed with the European Union of the Deaf and Athena Research Center, and
- “Tools capable to detect emotional arousal in the user’s speech” developed with the University of Zurich and audEERING.
The innovations represent a significant advancement in accessibility technology. These cutting-edge developments enhance the precision and expressiveness of sign language translations by accurately capturing and analysing complex gestures, facial expressions, and emotions. By improving the way sign languages are translated and interpreted, the innovations address a critical need in communication among deaf and hearing individuals, making interactions more natural and effective.
Market Readiness and Impact
The European Commission’s Innovation Radar has categorised the three innovations as being in the “Exploring” phase of market maturity. This classification indicates that while the technologies are still being developed, they show promising potential to fulfil market demands and address existing needs. The innovations have been further recognised for their ability to meet the requirements of current markets, highlighting their relevance and applicability.
Visibility on the Global Stage
As a result of this recognition, the details of the innovations will be featured on the European Commission’s Innovation Radar platform within 30 days. This prestigious platform showcases over 11,000 EU-funded innovations, providing a unique opportunity to attract global attention, forge new partnerships, and stimulate interest from potential investors. The visibility gained through this platform underscores the importance and impact of Martel’s work, and we are eager to explore the new opportunities that this recognition will bring. Visit the Innovation Radar website to see other Martel-driven innovations.
Future Prospects and Continued Innovation
Martel is committed to continuing our efforts in bringing innovative solutions to market. We are leveraging resources like the Innovation Radar platform and support initiatives such as Dealflow.eu and Horizon Results Booster to maximize the impact of our work. We encourage other innovators to take advantage of these opportunities to further their own advancements.
This recognition by the European Commission’s Innovation Radar not only validates our efforts but also positions the EASIER consortium members as leaders in the field of accessible communication technology. We are proud of our contribution to a future where communication is more inclusive and accessible for all.
About the EASIER project
EASIER was a Horizon 2020 project established with the aim to design, develop, and validate a complete multilingual machine translation system that would act as a framework for barrier-free communication among deaf and hearing individuals, as well as provide a platform to support sign language content creation. EASIER completed its 3-year runtime on December 31, 2023, and held the final review by the European Commission, which formally ended the project on February 29, 2024.
For more information on the EASIER project and its results, please visit: www.project-easier.eu
