Breaking Barriers: Bridging Communication Gaps in Virtual Meetings with ASL Integration for Google Meet

In today’s digital landscape, effective communication remains challenging for American Sign Language (ASL) users in virtual settings. This paper introduces a solution integrating ASL into Google Meet, enabling real-time ASL-to-text conversion for seamless communication. This study aims to address the following questions: How effective is the ASL-to-text conversion system in improving communication for ASL users in virtual meetings? What technical and ethical challenges arise during the implementation? How does the system enhance accessibility and inclusivity in online meetings? The system uses MediaPipe to detect hand signs, which are then sent to a browser via a socket connection to an extension that types the sign in the chatbox. Additionally, it incorporates text-to-speech synthesis for enhanced accessibility. User testing was conducted to validate the system’s efficacy, focusing on accuracy, response time, and user satisfaction. Data was collected and analyzed to identify areas for improvement. User testing demonstrated that the system significantly improved communication accessibility and efficiency for ASL users. The ASL-to-text conversion showed high accuracy rates, and the response time was sufficient for real-time communication. Users reported increased inclusivity and a more seamless virtual meeting experience. This pioneering approach effectively addresses communication barriers for ASL users, marking a significant stride towards creating inclusive virtual environments on Google Meet. The study highlights the system’s potential to enhance accessibility and inclusivity in online meetings, while also identifying technical and ethical considerations for further development.