ELCA Congregation Uses Computer to Project for the Deaf

COMPUTER PROJECTS THE WORD FOR THE DEAF

As the Rev. Jenny Bogard preaches the sermon at Holy Apostle's
Lutheran Church, Hickory Hills, Ill., a computer driven display will
project her words for those who cannot hear her voice.  The system
will premiere Sunday, Oct. 5, according to the Rev. Dayton Williams,
deaf ministry coordinator for the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  "At least three-quarters of
the deaf people in America do not use Sign Language as their primary
language, because most of them lost their hearing after already
learning English or another spoken language," Williams said.  "This
new technology will enable them and others with hearing loss to be
able to see the sermon as it is preached," he said.  Williams
explained, "The computer listens to the voice of the speaker, the
software figures out what words are being spoken and displays them.
Previously, speech recognition software required speakers to use
'discrete speech' that put pauses between words in order to recognize
them.  New software is able to understand speakers who talk
naturally."  The new programs  make fewer phonetic mistakes because
the program can tell the difference between words which sound alike by
taking grammar, meaning and syntax into consideration, he said.
Williams called Sunday's demonstration "the beginning of a new day in
speech recognition software."  He said it will start "big changes in
many areas of church life including worship, education, translation
and interpretation, and communication."

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html