AI-driven photorealistic sign language translation for public communication

Signapse offers AI photorealistic sign-language translation via SignSpaces, SignStudio and SignStream. Live in 2,579 UK stations (100M passengers) and three US airports. SaaS subscription; reduces costs >70% and speeds delivery 10x. 30% of team are Deaf.

Signapse is a for-profit, UK-based start-up technology company developing AI solutions for automated, photorealistic sign language translation. It integrates digital signers, based on real Deaf people, who receive royalties. Its software enables on-demand translation of written content into sign language videos for British and American Sign Language, now deployed in public service, media, and travel services. By mid-2025, 2,500 UK train stations and major US airports used it, providing immediate access to travel updates for Deaf users.

Problems Targeted

Deaf users rarely have real-time public information in sign language, leading to exclusion and limited access to essential travel, safety, or news information.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

Signapse delivers AI-driven, photorealistic sign language translation via three main products: SignSpaces (real-time transport and travel information), SignStudio (self-serve translation platform for post-production content), and SignStream (real-time translation) – targeting such sectors as travel, media, and public service. Using Generative Adversarial Networks and Neural Machine Translation, the platform uses the likenesses of real deaf individuals for its digital signers, each compensated through a royalty scheme. The system, co-designed with deaf communities, provides a scalable and cost-effective alternative to traditional Motion Capture methods, reducing translation costs by over 70 percent and increasing delivery speed tenfold. The photorealism of its digital signers offers greater user preference and engagement compared to cartoon-based avatar solutions. Deaf people are embedded throughout the organization, comprising 30 per cent of the team, a deaf Impact Officer leads the team on community engagement. As of June 2025, the solution has been live across the entire UK rail network, delivering real-time information in British Sign Language for 2,579 stations and impacting 100 million passengers. In 2024, Signapse launched in the United States and has served three airports with AI-powered American Sign Language

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

Signapse operates a subscription-based SaaS licensing model. Product scale-up is ongoing for broadcasters and other public communication contexts as of June 2025 (#ZeroCall26)

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