We present an outline of the technical aspects of the recently started ViSiCAST project, which aims to provide deaf citizens with improved access to services and facilities through sign language. At the core of the project are `enabling technology' workpackages, concerned with the further development of the language technology and avatar technology established in earlier projects. These activities support workpackages covering three different application areas: multimedia and WWW; face-to-face transactions; and broadcasting. We first give an overview of the main application areas, before considering in more detail the two areas of supporting technology development: language and notation, and virtual human signin