Google has developed software that could pave the way for smartphones to interpret sign language. The tech firm has not made a product of its own but has published algorithms which it hopes developers will use to make their own apps. Until now, this type of software has only worked on PCs. But campaigners from the hearing-impaired community have welcomed the move, but say the tech might struggle to fully grasp some conversations. In an AI blog, Google research engineers Valentin Bazarevsky and Fan Zhang said the intention of the freely published hand-tracking technology - which can perceive the shape and motion of hands - was to serve as "the basis for sign language understanding".

Until now, this type of software has only worked on PCs, so it's a huge and important step. The hearing-impaired community appreciated the project, but also noted that the tech might have problems fully translating some conversations. In an AI blog, Google research engineers Valentin Bazarevsky and Fan Zhang state that the project will be "the basis for sign language understanding". It was developed in partnership with image software company MediaPipe. "We're excited to see what people come up with. For our part, we will continue our research to make the technology more robust and to stabilize tracking, increasing the number of gestures we can reliably detect," a spokeswoman told the BBC.

Google says it has made it possible for a smartphone to interpret and "read aloud" sign language. The tech firm has not made an app of its own but has published algorithms which it hopes developers will use to make their own apps. Until now, this type of software has only worked on PCs. Campaigners from the hearing-impaired community have welcomed the move, but say the tech might struggle to fully grasp some conversations. In an AI blog, Google research engineers Valentin Bazarevsky and Fan Zhang said the intention of the freely published technology was to serve as "the basis for sign language understanding".