Sign language interpreting on TV. A reception study of visual screen exploration in deaf signing users

We studied how sign language users responded to a screen composition including a larger screen for the content and a smaller screen for the sign language interpreter. 32 deaf users participated in this experiment, watching four similar clips with four different screen compositions. We registered the pattern of screen exploration with Eye Tracker, and we assessed content recall with two questionnaires. Our results show that sign language users mainly look at the sign language interpreter screen. Participants tend to look more often and for longer time at the SLI side closer to the main screen. Results are interpreted in terms of perceptual strategies developed by Sign Language users.