SIGN

SIGN is an acronym that can refer to several different concepts, depending on the context. In the medical field, it can refer to the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, an organization that develops clinical guidelines for healthcare professionals in Scotland. In the field of cryptography, SIGN can refer to the act of applying a digital signature to a document or message. In the field of linguistics, SIGN can refer to a unit of meaning in a sign language.

Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network

The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) is a part of Healthcare Improvement Scotland, the national healthcare improvement organization for Scotland. SIGN develops evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the National Health Service (NHS) in Scotland. These guidelines are used by healthcare professionals to make decisions about care and treatment. SIGN guidelines cover a wide range of medical, surgical, and mental health conditions.

Digital Signature

In cryptography, to SIGN a document or message means to apply a digital signature. This is a mathematical scheme for demonstrating the authenticity of a digital message or document. A valid digital signature gives a recipient reason to believe that the message was created by a known sender and that it was not altered in transit.

Sign Language

In linguistics, a SIGN is a unit of meaning in a sign language. Sign languages are languages that use the visual-manual modality to convey meaning. They are used by deaf communities and can be found all over the world. Each sign in a sign language can consist of a specific combination of location, handshape, movement, and non-manual elements.