Show HN: Kara Auto Translate – Free English to ASL Translation, Open Beta
We're the team behind Kara Auto Translate (KAT), an AI tool that translates English into American Sign Language (ASL) video. It's free to try, and we’re launching this public beta specifically to gather feedback from the Deaf community and beyond.
Try it here (no signup needed): https://kara.tech
---
# What it does You enter a short sentence in English, and KAT returns a high-quality video of the translation in ASL
Behind the scenes: 1. English → Kara Notation System (KNS): A custom format capturing ASL grammar, structure, and sentiment. 2. KNS → Avatar Animation: Our animation generation engine creates natural, accurate sign motions. 3. → Video Output: It’s rendered with no download or install needed.
# Why we’re posting KAT was built with Deaf advisors and linguists, but it’s still early. Real feedback is what makes it better.
We're looking for: - Bugs or awkward translations - Suggestions on accessibility, UI, or language coverage - Comments on linguistic or cultural accuracy
If you use ASL, work in accessibility, or just care about language tech — we’d love your thoughts.
# What’s next - Better facial expressions & grammar coverage - Support for longer/more complex sentences - Feedback tools to make community input easier
Thanks for checking it out. We’re building this in the open and every comment helps.
—Farmehr and the Kara Team