Interactive animation system for sign language

In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display and a selection device, a method of teaching mathematics using sign language comprising:

• displaying a three-dimensional avatar configured to communicate using sign language on the display;
• retrieving a mathematical problem;
• displaying the mathematical problem on the display in a textual manner;
• and
• directing the avatar to communicate the mathematical problem using sign language.

A method of animating a signed communication:

• providing a first animation segment configured to sign a first expression, where a signer in the first animation segment starts in a first position;
• providing a second animation segment configured to sign the first expression, where a signer in the second animation segment starts in a second position;
• receiving a request to sign the first expression;
• determining whether the first expression will be an initial segment in an animation sequence,
• if the first expression is the initial segment in the animation sequence, retrieving the first animation segment, and
• if the first expression is not the initial segment in the animation sequence, retrieving the second animation segment.

A method of animating a signed communication, the method comprising:

• providing a library of sign language expressions, each expression associated a first animation segment, a second animation segment, a third animation segment and a fourth animation segment, where a signer in the first animation segment starts in a first position and ends in the first position, where a signer in the second animation segment starts in a second position and ends in the second position, where a signer in the third animation segment starts in the first position and ends in the second position and a signer in the fourth animation segment starts in the second position and ends in the first position;
• receiving a request for a signed communication, the signed communication including an initial expression, an intermediate expression and a final expression;
• retrieving the first animation segment for a sign language expression corresponding to the initial expression from the library;
• displaying the first animation segment on a display;
• retrieving the fourth animation segment for a sign language expression corresponding to the intermediate expression from the library;
• displaying the fourth animation segment on the display;
• retrieving the second animation segment for a sign language expression corresponding to the final expression from the library;
• and
• displaying the second animation segment on the display.