Even when disaster broadcasts go live, sign language must be delivered together
[ Why Is This Needed? ]
When emergencies occur, television broadcasts remain one of the fastest and most widely used channels for delivering critical information. During large-scale disasters, emergency broadcasts are often transmitted in real time, without prior notice.
However, in many cases, these broadcasts do not include sign language interpretation.
For Deaf viewers who rely on sign language as their primary language,
disaster broadcasts delivered only through audio or captions may not be sufficient for immediate understanding.
SignTong Broadcast was developed to ensure that disaster information is delivered simultaneously in sign language on screen,
allowing Deaf viewers to understand critical information at the same moment as other audiences.
[ How Is It Used? ]
① IPTV Set-Top Box–Based Sign Language Disaster Broadcast
Disaster broadcast messages are generated based on standard alert templates
defined and managed by government agencies such as FEMA and the FCC.
These alerts are structured in the CAP (Common Alerting Protocol) format,
which standardizes essential information such as disaster type, affected areas, and time.
Using this CAP data, SignTong sign language disaster broadcast services
are applied directly to IPTV set-top boxes.
When an emergency alert is issued,
a sign language avatar prepared in advance delivers disaster information on the TV screen in real time.
This service is provided as an opt-in feature, allowing users to enable it based on their preferences.
→ Disaster broadcasts can be understood immediately through sign language
on the most familiar medium: television.
② Terrestrial Broadcast-Based Sign Language Disaster Alerts
▲ Signing of MOU with PMVG (United States)
▲ Sign Language Disaster Alert Broadcast in Tennessee, USA
Not all households use IPTV.
Many viewers still receive television content through terrestrial broadcasting.
In the United States, WCTE, a PBS affiliate station,
conducted pilot tests to deliver sign language avatar–based disaster information
using next-generation terrestrial broadcast standards (ATSC 3.0).
This approach distributes:
a sign language avatar application via terrestrial broadcast signals, and
disaster alert data simultaneously.
Through this pilot, SignTong confirmed the feasibility of delivering
sign language–based disaster information even outside IPTV environments.
→ A disaster information accessibility model that can be expanded regardless of broadcast platform.
[ What Changes? ]
Substantially improved accessibility in disaster broadcasting
Deaf viewers can understand and respond to disaster information in real time.
Clear and standardized delivery of alert information
Structured alerts minimize misunderstanding and confusion.
Enhanced public role of broadcasting
Goes beyond subtitles to provide truly understandable disaster communication.
Stronger trust in television as a disaster medium
Reinforces broadcasting as the most reliable information channel during emergencies.
Even when disaster broadcasts go live, sign language must be delivered together
[ Why Is This Needed? ]
When emergencies occur, television broadcasts remain one of the fastest and most widely used channels for delivering critical information. During large-scale disasters, emergency broadcasts are often transmitted in real time, without prior notice.
However, in many cases, these broadcasts do not include sign language interpretation.
For Deaf viewers who rely on sign language as their primary language,
disaster broadcasts delivered only through audio or captions may not be sufficient for immediate understanding.
SignTong Broadcast was developed to ensure that disaster information is delivered simultaneously in sign language on screen,
allowing Deaf viewers to understand critical information at the same moment as other audiences.
[ How Is It Used? ]
① IPTV Set-Top Box–Based Sign Language Disaster Broadcast
Disaster broadcast messages are generated based on standard alert templates
defined and managed by government agencies such as FEMA and the FCC.
These alerts are structured in the CAP (Common Alerting Protocol) format,
which standardizes essential information such as disaster type, affected areas, and time.
Using this CAP data, SignTong sign language disaster broadcast services
are applied directly to IPTV set-top boxes.
When an emergency alert is issued,
a sign language avatar prepared in advance delivers disaster information on the TV screen in real time.
This service is provided as an opt-in feature, allowing users to enable it based on their preferences.
→ Disaster broadcasts can be understood immediately through sign language
on the most familiar medium: television.
② Terrestrial Broadcast-Based Sign Language Disaster Alerts
▲ Sign Language Disaster Alert Broadcast in Tennessee, USA
Not all households use IPTV.
Many viewers still receive television content through terrestrial broadcasting.
In the United States, WCTE, a PBS affiliate station,
conducted pilot tests to deliver sign language avatar–based disaster information
using next-generation terrestrial broadcast standards (ATSC 3.0).
This approach distributes:
a sign language avatar application via terrestrial broadcast signals, and
disaster alert data simultaneously.
Through this pilot, SignTong confirmed the feasibility of delivering
sign language–based disaster information even outside IPTV environments.
→ A disaster information accessibility model that can be expanded regardless of broadcast platform.
[ What Changes? ]
Substantially improved accessibility in disaster broadcasting
Deaf viewers can understand and respond to disaster information in real time.
Clear and standardized delivery of alert information
Structured alerts minimize misunderstanding and confusion.
Enhanced public role of broadcasting
Goes beyond subtitles to provide truly understandable disaster communication.
Stronger trust in television as a disaster medium
Reinforces broadcasting as the most reliable information channel during emergencies.