Growing research in sign language recognition, generation, and translation AI has been accompanied by calls for ethical development of such technologies. While these works are crucial to helping individual researchers do better, there is a notable lack of discussion of systemic biases or analysis of rhetoric that shape the research questions and methods in the field, especially as it remains dominated by hearing non-signing researchers. Therefore, we conduct a systematic review of 101 recent papers in sign language AI. Our analysis identifies significant biases in the current state of sign language AI research, including an overfocus on addressing perceived communication barriers, a lack of use of representative datasets, use of annotations lacking linguistic foundations, and development of methods that build on flawed models. We take the position that the field lacks meaningful input from Deaf stakeholders, and is instead driven by what decisions are the most convenient or perceived as important to hearing researchers. We end with a call to action: the field must make space for Deaf researchers to lead the conversation in sign language AI.
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Posterpresentatie op conferentie Introductie: De afgelopen twee decennia is er geen communis opinio over de vraag of er sprake is van regionale factoren bij de constituentvolgorde in de Nederlandse Gebarentaal (NGT) (Coerts, 1994; Crasborn & De Wit, 2005; Vermeerbergen, Nijen Twilhaar & Van Herreweghe, 2013). Dit onderzoek levert een bijdrage aan de discussie over constituent-volgorde in het algemeen, doordat werd onderzocht of constituentvolgorde in NGT verschillend is voor eerste- en tweedetaalverwervers van de NGT. Methode: Er namen tien participanten (studenten NGT aan de Hogeschool Utrecht) deel: vijf dove moedertaalgebruikers en vijf horende studenten (leeftijd 19-30 jaar). Productie werd uitgelokt van drie verschillende typen enkelvoudige zinnen aan de hand van plaatjes (Volterra et al., 1984): 6 zinnen met omkeerbare constituenten, 6 zinnen met niet-omkeerbare constituenten en 6 locatieve zinnen. Alle 180 geproduceerde zinnen werden getranscribeerd en syntactisch (Subject, Object, Verbum) geanalyseerd. Resultaten: De moedertaalgebruikers gaven duidelijk de voorkeur aan de volgorde SVO of SVOV bij omkeerbare zinnen en SOV voor niet-omkeerbare zinnen. Voor de locatieve zinnen werd veel variatie gevonden, met een lichte voorkeur voor OSV. De T2-verwervers vertoonden veel variatie in de productie van omkeerbare zinnen zonder duidelijk patroon. Voor de niet-omkeerbare zinnen werd een lichte voorkeur voor SOV gevonden en wederom variatie. De loca-tieve zinnen werden voornamelijk uitgedrukt in de volgorde OSV. Conclusie: Deze studie toont aan dat de constituentvolgorde van moedertaalgebruikers en T2-verwervers verschillen. Opvallend is dat de T2-verwervers de neiging hebben de regel voor locatieve zinnen ‘Het grootste element voorop in de zin’ te overgeneraliseren naar het type niet-omkeerbare zin.
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BACKGROUND: Combining increased dietary protein intake and resistance exercise training for elderly people is a promising strategy to prevent or counteract the loss of muscle mass and decrease the risk of disabilities. Using findings from controlled interventions in a real-life setting requires adaptations to the intervention and working procedures of healthcare professionals (HCPs). The aim of this study is to adapt an efficacious intervention for elderly people to a real-life setting (phase one) and test the feasibility and potential impact of this prototype intervention in practice in a pilot study (phase two).METHODS: The Intervention Mapping approach was used to guide the adaptation in phase one. Qualitative data were collected from the original researchers, target group, and HCPs, and information was used to decide whether and how specified intervention elements needed to be adapted. In phase two, a one-group pre-test post-test pilot study was conducted (n = 25 community-dwelling elderly), to elicit further improvements to the prototype intervention. The evaluation included participant questionnaires and measurements at baseline (T0) and follow-up (T1), registration forms, interviews, and focus group discussions (T1). Qualitative data for both phases were analysed using an inductive approach. Outcome measures included physical functioning, strength, body composition, and dietary intake. Change in outcomes was assessed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.RESULTS: The most important adaptations to the original intervention were the design of HCP training and extending the original protein supplementation with a broader nutrition programme aimed at increasing protein intake, facilitated by a dietician. Although the prototype intervention was appreciated by participants and professionals, and perceived applicable for implementation, the pilot study process evaluation resulted in further adaptations, mostly concerning recruitment, training session guidance, and the nutrition programme. Pilot study outcome measures showed significant improvements in muscle strength and functioning, but no change in lean body mass.CONCLUSION: The combined nutrition and exercise intervention was successfully adapted to the real-life setting and seems to have included the most important effective intervention elements. After adaptation of the intervention using insights from the pilot study, a larger, controlled trial should be conducted to assess cost-effectiveness.TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov NL51834.081.14 (April 22, 2015).
