Imagine you need to make your website or TV broadcast accessible to deaf people. Traditionally, you'd hire a human signer, book a studio, and film them — expensive and slow. SiMAX built a digital avatar that signs instead: a human translator fine-tunes the translation using smart suggestions from a learning database, and out comes a video of a realistic avatar performing sign language, complete with the facial expressions that are actually part of sign language grammar. Think of it like Google Translate, but instead of text output you get a signing avatar video.
Millions of deaf Europeans cannot access most digital content, public information, or broadcasts because sign language translation is expensive and slow — requiring human signers, studio time, and separate production for each sign language. EU accessibility regulations are tightening, creating both a compliance burden and a growing market gap for scalable sign language solutions.
A cloud-based sign language avatar translation system that combines smart translation algorithms with human translator oversight to produce realistic signing avatar videos. The project delivered pilot productions in 4 sign languages (German, British, French, Polish) with 10-20 minutes of video material each, and prepared a commercialization strategy for EU market entry.
If you are a public authority required to make citizen information accessible to deaf residents — this project developed a cloud-based avatar translation service covering 4 sign languages (German, British, French, Polish) that produces signing videos faster and cheaper than traditional studio recordings with human signers. Pilot translations of citizen and consumer information were carried out in 4 countries.
If you are a broadcaster dealing with accessibility mandates for your content — this project developed an avatar signing system that can translate digital video content into sign language without booking studios or hiring on-camera interpreters. The system was fine-tuned for mass production and works as a cloud solution, making it scalable for large content libraries.
If you are a company dealing with EU accessibility regulations requiring your web content and digital communications to be understandable by deaf customers — this project built a translation tool where a human translator adjusts smart algorithm suggestions, producing avatar sign language videos for web publishing. Pilots were run with real consumer information content across 4 European markets.
The project data does not list specific pricing. However, the objective states SiMAX is 'less time and cost consuming than classical translation videos produced in a studio with human translators signing.' As a cloud solution designed for mass production, unit costs should decrease with volume.
Yes. The system was specifically adapted during this project to work as a cloud solution and was fine-tuned for mass production. Pilot translations were carried out across 4 countries (Germany, UK, France, Poland), demonstrating multi-market scalability.
SiMAX was developed by Sign time GmbH, an Austrian SME that is the sole consortium partner and IP owner. Based on available project data, the company operates commercially via simax.media. Licensing terms would need to be discussed directly with Sign time GmbH.
The project covered 4 sign languages: German, British, French, and Polish Sign Language. The deliverable descriptions reference pilot productions for these languages, with minimum 10-20 minutes of video material each.
EU accessibility regulations increasingly require digital content to be accessible to deaf communities. SiMAX directly addresses this by providing sign language translations for web content, public information, and broadcast media. The project specifically mentions accessibility regulations as a market growth driver.
Yes. A human translator adjusts translations suggested by smart algorithms on a learning database. This hybrid approach ensures quality while reducing time and cost compared to full manual studio production. The system learns and improves its suggestions over time.
Based on available project data, specific production timelines are not stated. The objective emphasizes the process is faster than classical studio production. The cloud-based mass-production design suggests turnaround is significantly reduced compared to booking studios and scheduling human signers.
This is a single-company project: Sign time GmbH, an Austrian SME that is 100% industry with no academic partners. This is typical of SME Instrument Phase 2 funding, which backs companies ready to commercialize. The absence of university partners actually signals maturity — the science is done, the focus is on market entry. Sign time combines sign language expertise with ICT development, and as the sole partner, they hold full control over the technology and commercialization strategy.
Sign time GmbH is an Austrian SME — contact likely available via simax.media
Want to explore how SiMAX can make your content accessible? SciTransfer can connect you with the team behind this EU-backed sign language technology.
