Soon everyone will be able to learn sign language online, thanks to students at Prince of Songkla University in Phuket.

This month a sign-language dictionary will be available at the university's computer-engineering school website, lecturer Amarin Deemagarn says.

Its vocabulary is about 700 words and users can search for video files of signs by entering text. There are sounds, pictures and definitions of each word in Thai and English. It can even spell names.

"In the next step, I want to make searches sound enabled and the output to be in sign-language, and vice versa. This should communicating with hearing-impaired people easier," says Budsara Sakuljilapa, 22, one of the creators.

Phuket Special School, a school for the deaf, has its students using the software.

"We're developing some pictures and sounds, as well as adding a new option that will allow users to make suggestions," Amarin says.

The dictionary will also be produced on compact discs.

The creators want to add more exercises and vocabulary as well as English and mathematics signs.

Visit coe.phuket.psu.ac.th or call (076) 276 000.