Sign Language: Ready For Use In Space?
Keith’s note: Fast forward to 28:45 for an interview with deaf student astronaut Julia Velasquez in ASL who is currently at HI-SEAS Mars analog habitat in Hawaii. In a previous life I worked as a professional Sign Language interpreter so I think this is especially cool. Another language that may one day be used in space? I used to go snorkeling with one of my deaf roommates. We used to have perfectly normal conversations underwater except that they caused us to move our bodies. When I flew on ZeroG parabolic flight I started to sign to myself in an exaggerated fashion. If I was already rotating what I said in sign language affected my rotation. I also signed to myself when I was in the NASTAR centrifuge at 3Gs – because I could (with my 200 pound arms). Anyone who has gone SCUBA diving knows that there are a bunch of hand signs you use in certain situations. But they are very limited. How do you communicate in space if your radio is dead? I can imagine that people living in zeroG for prolonged periods will develop their own unique art forms – and there is an obvious overlap between sign language, song, dance, and acrobatics – especially when you remove the downward pull of gravity. Maybe Andy Weir can write a book about that. Just sayin’
Robonaut-2 Says “Hello world” in American Sign Language From the ISS, SpaceRef (2012)
“On 13 March 2012, NASA’s Robonaut-2 said “hello world” in American Sign Language (ASL) from the International Space Station. I am told that the idea for this came from my suggestion posted on NASA Watch several months ago (below). How cool.”
First International Comparative List of Astronomical Words In Sign Languages
“The first international comparative list of astronomical words in sign languages is now available. As part of this proposal, the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Astronomy for Sign Languages has been translated into English and Spanish and is now available online. This is the result of a long-term project developed by the IAU Commission C1 Education and Development of Astronomy and its WG3 Astronomy for Equity and Inclusion. The new list currently includes 47 words most commonly used in education.”
Quite interesting article.
An honest question: can a deaf person serve in space?
I’m asking because I am completely ignorant. Is it not the case that for ASL to facilitate communication the two parties must look at one another? How do two astronauts working on ammonia lines, for instance — I’ve watched hundreds of hours of similar video — how do they communicate when they are facing in different directions?
And how would a deaf person talk to Houston? A GoPro fastened to a selfie stick?
All of which is not to deprecate the ambitions or abilities of this lovely young woman. I’m curious. How would it work?
No one stops deaf people from driving cars, flying on commercial airliners, cruise ships, or trains. If commercial space is going to be a real thing then this will take care of itself.
The arrival of smartphones and txting has revolutionized the world for the hearing impaired…and those who interact with them. Such technology would likely be (already is groundside?) an essential component of their participation in space ops.
What’s the state of the art for projecting text onto the back of a pair of glasses? Smartphones are fine, but they don’t leave your hands free.
I’d say this is an example of the state of the art: https://gearjunkie.com/ever…
Yea in the 70s my deaf roommates had a reconditioned mechanical teletype donated by ATT to deaf community. It was loud and had an acoustic handset interface. When the guy who owned it moved out we used to get whistling phone calls all the time. I also learned to type on this thing.
What’s a “student-astronaut”? Been in the business a long time and I’ve never heard of such a thing…is that like “student-pilot”? Is there some formal training or prerequisite for achieving such status, or is it self-awarded?
You are the designated grump guy on this thread.
I’ve been reading The Expanse series by James A Corey and hand language is a big part of the culture for the “Belters” (those who are born, grow up, and live in space). The book describes its use spawning from the need to communicate clearly in a spacesuit without comms. For instance you can’t nod or shake your head for yes & no when you have a space helmet on. I expect our present day scuba signing would be the natural genesis for space signing and I’d be surprised if astronauts didn’t already use it as such.
There are other ways to say “yes” and “no” in Sign Language that are more common than head nodding and it involves simple hand gestures. . You can communicate anything you want to say in spoken English in ASL. You cannot do that in SCUBA hand signs.
I wonder if anyone has looked into the flexibility and speed of motion required for ASL. Current EVA suit gloves are very limiting in this respect. While I think that will have to improve, it may always be an issue. As a comparison, how well can someone sign in a scuba suit or wearing thick, winter gloves?
I have worn upper EVA suits with current gloves. I could sign easily if I had to. Yes, I tried to sign while I wore it. You just adapt a bit – if you are a fluent speaker its a natural adaptation you’ve done before. As for signing in gloves – you simply adapt. Hard to explain – you speak differently in noisy rooms than you do in quiet rooms. You sign differently in a one-on-one conversation than you you on a large stage to a big audience. As for signing in the cold – hard to explain but when my fingers get cold I react to speaking in my head the same way I do after having my mouth numbed at the dentist.