Sign-tube
www.sign-tube.com is a video sharing website that is dedicated to videos that are of interest to the Deaf community.
Established in Scotland in 2008, sign-tube does not only have videos in British Sign Language (BSL), but in sign languages from across the World, allowing for the website to be a hub for those wishing to learn more about the many different national sign languages and even regional dialects that are used in these visual-gestural languages.
Sign-tube allows members to upload any videos that they feel are of deaf interest. The membership is free and there is no limit as to the number of videos that can be uploaded by one person. When a person watches a video, they have the opportunity to comment on the video in sign language via the Media Response button, which will allow for an automatic video to be recorded through the viewer's own webcam.
For those who use BSL, English tends to be their second language. For this reason, to suggest that subtitles are the best method for allowing Deaf people access to media where speech is present is not adequate enough as many would prefer to see an interpreter (who can be a deaf interpreter - s/he need not be hearing) translate the speech into their own preferred signed language.
In the UK alone, BSL users are at risk from mental health problems. One reason for this is the low ratio of BSL/English interpreters to the number of deaf BSL users in the UK. In Scotland alone, the ratio of interpreters to deaf BSL users is 1:200. Due to the high demand on interpreters, there will be times when those in need of communication support are at a loss. This then leaves Deaf people at risk of being lonely, and unable to receive the care and support they require. At sign-tube, we are dedicated to uploading videos that gives out vital information about access to public services. For example:
As sign languages are visual-gestural languages, there is a lack of information about the history of British Sign Lanugage, despite there always being deaf communities in the UK. This was obviously due to difficulties in recording sign language in a written form as well as the fact that the first motion picture camera was not invented until 1895. But with today’s technology, we have the ability to record videos at ease and share them with people around the World within a click of a button. As languages are forever changing with the times, new words/signs are being created. Sign-tube is therefore key to any future studying of BSL’s history as it will have recorded videos giving insight to the languages and dialects from across the world.
Sign-tube offers Deaf people the opportunity to film themselves talking about topics and issues that they are interested in. It gives them the chance to have their moment in the spotlight, as artist Andy Warhol said, “In the future everyone will have their fifteen minutes of fame”.
