Our Mission
Bridging communication for the Deaf community in Oman.
JISSR (Arabic: جِسر, meaning bridge) is an AI-powered platform that translates Omani Sign Language into spoken Arabic and English in real time, and converts speech back into animated signing.
Why we exist
There are tens of thousands of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people across the Sultanate of Oman, yet very few public services, schools, or workplaces are equipped to communicate fluently with them. Sign language interpreters are rare; everyday interactions - at a clinic, in a classroom, at a service counter - can quickly become inaccessible.
JISSR is a step toward closing that gap. By turning a phone or laptop camera into an instant interpreter, we want to make every conversation a two-way street.
What we do
- Sign to Speech: Real-time recognition of Omani Sign Language using deep learning (UniSign + RTMPose) - the spoken translation appears on screen and can be read aloud.
- Speech to Sign: Spoken or typed Arabic/English is converted into animated signing using an avatar dictionary.
- History & accessibility: Sessions are saved so users can review past conversations, with high-contrast modes and adjustable text for low-vision users.
Our principles
- Privacy first. Video frames are processed in memory and discarded; we never permanently store recordings.
- Inclusive by design. The interface is built with WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility in mind from day one.
- Open to the community. JISSR is an academic project developed at Sultan Qaboos University; we welcome feedback from Deaf users, interpreters, educators and researchers.