<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><ns2:project xmlns:ns1="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api" xmlns:ns2="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/project" xmlns:ns3="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/fund" xmlns:ns4="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/person" xmlns:ns5="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/project/outcome" xmlns:ns6="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/organisation" ns1:created="2026-06-22T07:57:45Z" ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/projects/276D062C-0B55-4803-86A5-35E83EB84FCC" ns1:id="276D062C-0B55-4803-86A5-35E83EB84FCC"><ns1:links><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/persons/CBB2AE80-E1D9-494F-BB21-747D5D75F8BF" ns1:rel="PM_PER"/><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/organisations/9BB632C0-B469-413C-9389-16F1121A8974" ns1:rel="LEAD_ORG"/><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/organisations/9BB632C0-B469-413C-9389-16F1121A8974" ns1:rel="PARTICIPANT_ORG"/><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/organisations/0BBD559D-CFCE-4A41-8B35-B3029FA920E8" ns1:rel="PARTICIPANT_ORG"/><ns1:link ns1:end="2019-03-31T00:00:00Z" ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/funds/212534E6-27FD-46CB-A5C2-B99EE95CAEF9" ns1:rel="FUND" ns1:start="2018-09-30T23:00:00Z"/></ns1:links><ns2:identifiers><ns2:identifier ns2:type="RCUK">133745</ns2:identifier></ns2:identifiers><ns2:title>BBSign: The use of AR + MR to teach Baby Sign Language to deaf and hearing pre-schoolers.</ns2:title><ns2:status>Closed</ns2:status><ns2:grantCategory>Feasibility Studies</ns2:grantCategory><ns2:leadFunder>ISCF</ns2:leadFunder><ns2:abstractText>Baby BSL is a high-quality AR storybook that uses a combination of smartphones, printed and kinaesthetic products to teach British Sign Language (BSL) to hearing parents of pre-verbal deaf or hearing children (e.g., under 3). By combining AR, MR (video and audio) with print and textiles, Baby BSL uses simple narratives to create an interactive illustrated children's pop-up story book and communications aid. There is currently a lack of accessible and consistent 'baby sign language' in the UK as the teaching assets for British Sign Language (BSL) underperform compared to those for American Sign Language (ASL). Baby BSL inspires and empowers hearing parents to learn to sign at home and encourages greater BSL uptake in nurseries. It's a playfully immersive interface that combines existing smartphone technology with familiar objects and everyday scenarios, e.g, a walk in the park. Baby BSL encourages families to copy and learn useful signs as a foundation for communication. Associated merchandise includes books, cards, comforters, games and augmented clothes.

This first phase of the project is Industrial Research concluding with a suite of demonstrative prototypes. A team comprising two creative design businesses specialising in print and VR, an academic and an innovation studio will inform the phases of our human-centered study comprising market research, design &amp;amp; prototyping, user-testing and evaluation. The results of analysis will be used to create a range of quick fire prototypes for commercially viable products. Prototypes will be tested in a series of human-centered workshops with parents and pre-schoolers. Results from user-testing will be logged and evaluated and used to inform design iterations tested with deaf and hearing families. To conclude, a final suite of designs together with series of recommendations for future development will be created and will form the basis of a larger study to develop a viable business case and series of scalable designs for a commercially viable product in 2019.</ns2:abstractText></ns2:project>