A Cornell-led research team has developed an artificial intelligence-powered ring equipped with micro-sonar technology that can continuously and in real time track fingerspelling in American Sign Language (ASL). In its current form, SpellRing could be used to enter text into computers or smartphones via fingerspelling, which is used in ASL to spell out words without corresponding signs, such as proper nouns, names and technical terms. With further development, the device could revolutionize ASL translation by continuously tracking entire signed words and sentences.
Developed by Lim and researchers in the Smart Computer Interfaces for Future Interactions (SciFi) Lab, in the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, SpellRing is worn on the thumb and equipped with a microphone and speaker. Together they send and receive inaudible sound waves that track the wearer’s hand and finger movements, while a mini gyroscope tracks the hand’s motion. These components are housed inside a 3D-printed ring and casing no bigger than a standard U.S. quarter.
More information:
https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2025/03/ai-ring-tracks-spelled-words-american-sign-language