GovTech Success Story

Travel Informed with SignAvatar: Sign Language Support in the Srbijavoz App

While audio and text announcements are commonplace in public transportation, millions of people who rely on sign language as their primary means of communication still cannot access travel information in their native language. This lack of support remains a significant obstacle to equal access to public services.

Thanks to the innovation of the SignAvatar team, users of the Srbijavoz mobile application can now follow all relevant travel information, including arrivals, departures, and service changes, also in sign language. This is the first solution in the world that enables the use of public transportation with the support of 3D avatars based on real human communication. The solution was developed within the Innovation Fund’s GovTech Program, which fosters the digitalization of public services through cooperation with the private and academic sectors.

SignAvatar was founded by a group of young enthusiasts whose work reflects a deep understanding of the needs of the Deaf community. This close connection is further strengthened by the fact that two team members come directly from that community, bringing authenticity to the project and a strong commitment to ensuring that every piece of information is conveyed accurately, naturally, and with respect for the culture of sign language.

The technology developed by the team is based on artificial intelligence that translates speech into sign language. Instead of generic avatars and AI-generated movements, they relied on the motion of real people to accurately capture facial expressions and hand movements, which are essential components of sign language. Motion capture suits are used to record members of the Deaf community performing sign language. These recordings are then transferred onto 3D avatars that present the information clearly, accurately, and in accordance with the grammar of sign language, including facial expressions and hand gestures that convey meaning.

The Srbijavoz app automatically detects the nearest train station, while also allowing users to manually select a different location. Information is available in sign language, as well as in written Serbian and English, making navigation easier for foreigners and tourists. The feature is completely free and available to all users, setting a new standard in the digital accessibility of public services.

SignAvatar was developed through cross-sector collaboration. Alongside the team that created the technology and the public partner Srbijavoz, Microsoft in Serbia contributed to the implementation through its Microsoft Garage program. Cloud resources and technical infrastructure provided by Microsoft enabled the stable integration of the solution into the mobile app.

The introduction of sign language into railway services comes at a time when the European Union is beginning to implement a new Digital Accessibility Act, which requires institutions to make digital public services accessible to all citizens, including persons with disabilities. SignAvatar already meets these standards, setting a domestic example of inclusive technological practice.

Encouraged by the positive feedback from users, the team is already planning its next steps. The goal is for the solution to be implemented at more than twenty airports and railway systems across Europe, Canada, and the United States by 2027.

SignAvatar is more than just a technological innovation. It is an example of how dedication, understanding, and collaboration can create solutions that make public spaces accessible to everyone, without exception.

Discover how technology speaks sign language in the video.