Lukas Schwarzenbacher, filmmaker and project manager at the Swiss Association of Deaf Sonos, has put his heart and soul into developing the ASLtrainer. For him, one thing is certain: learning should be fun and empower people. The ASLtrainer has now been awarded two Comenius EduMedia seals.
Award-winning learning at Sonos
Lukas Schwarzenbacher, filmmaker and project manager at Sonos, developed the ASLtrainer. His most important goal: to empower people to a self-determined life. This approach is convincing: on June 24, 2025, the ASLtrainer was awarded the Comenius EduMedia Seal, one of the most important European prizes for digital educational media. Sonos also received the GreenUp Award for particularly sustainable education. “These awards confirm that we are not only working effectively with the ASLtrainer, but also sustainably,” says Lukas Schwarzenbacher happily.
Learning should be fun
Lukas Schwarzenbacher describes his work as lively, colorful, and playful. “I understand the learning process as a kind of entertainment. It should be fun and keeping up motivation,” he says. In the lessons, users learn words and sentences related to everyday topics such as cooking, animals, and means of transport. The actors always wear clothing that matches the theme of the lesson. The craziest outfit is particularly remembered: “For the lesson water animals, we borrowed a diving suit,” he says with a big smile.
The importance of exchanging experience
The award ceremony in Paderborn was a memorable experience for the project manager. “I felt very comfortable right from the start. The atmosphere was relaxed and professional at the same time,” he recalls. He was particularly inspired by a conversation with a photographer who had similar camera problems. “That’s when I realized the importance to exchange ideas and not try to do everything on your own. This applies just as much to learning sign language,” he explains. Lukas Schwarzenbacher would like to anchor the same principle in the ASLtrainer as well. “We are aiming to create even more opportunities for exchange in the future,” he says. Nevertheless, the application remains deliberately accessible: everyone can try out four modules—cities, clothing, zoo animals, and colors—free of charge before deciding.
Child-friendly and unique
Lukas Schwarzenbacher is particularly proud that the ASLtrainer also works for children who cannot yet read. “We work with pictures so that even the youngest children can learn sign language. This is rare and an important feature for us,” he emphasizes. The reactions to the learning application motivate him. “Recently, after a presentation, a man said, ‘That was really exciting!’ – Moments like these show me that we are on the right track,” says the project manager.
Why ASL means freedom
According to Lukas Schwarzenbacher, sign language is not just a means of communication, but a key to participating in social life, exchanging ideas, and taking decisions. “ASL helps people to communicate, to shape their lives and to make them independent.” he explains.
Looking forward
In the next steps, Lukas Schwarzenbacher would like to incorporate more content: new words, new sentences, new topics. “It doesn’t always have to be the latest or most spectacular thing. He aims to create a that lasts and is enjoyable,” he says. For him, one thing is certain: “If we can help people create their lifes in a self-determined way with the help of the ASLtrainer, then we will have achieved a lot.”
