1. Video Phone for Deaf and Hard-Hearing Community By Hudson Asiema

2. Background Before the videophone for the deaf community is recently introduced and developed: Before the videophone for the deaf community is recently introduced and developed: TTD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) TTD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) Pager Pager SMS and EMAIL SMS and EMAIL

3. Introduction of the Videophone to deaf and hard-hearing people Videophone enables Videophone enables deaf people to communicate in sign languages. It enables deaf people to call hearing people’s cell phone via an ASL interpreter. It enables deaf people to call hearing people’s cell phone via an ASL interpreter.

4. Make a call to hearing people from deaf user who have the videophone

5. Video Relay Service (VRS) VRS “enables [deaf and hard-hearing person] who use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate with voice telephone users through video equipment, rather than through typed text.” VRS “enables [deaf and hard-hearing person] who use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate with voice telephone users through video equipment, rather than through typed text.”

6. Benefits to Deaf and hard-hearing Community Save time Save time Videophone saves deaf people’s time over TTD, pagers, email. Videophone saves deaf people’s time over TTD, pagers, email. Face-to-face communication Face-to-face communication Facial and emotional expression. Facial and emotional expression. Free service Free service NO charge. NO charge. Availability of videophone Booth – free to use. Availability of videophone Booth – free to use.

7. Disadvantages Calling 911 Calling 911 Some businesses hang up on videophone users Some businesses hang up on videophone users Sometimes, any bank CAN’T accept a call if it is a third party Sometimes, any bank CAN’T accept a call if it is a third party Sorenson VRS is not portable and wireless. Sorenson VRS is not portable and wireless. Limitation of videophone booth for the public such as school, company, hospital, library. Limitation of videophone booth for the public such as school, company, hospital, library.

8. Future “MobileASL is a video compression project at the University of Washington with the goal of making wireless cell phone communication through sign language a reality in the U.S.” “MobileASL is a video compression project at the University of Washington with the goal of making wireless cell phone communication through sign language a reality in the U.S.”

9. References MobileASL. http://mobileasl.cs.washington.edu/ MobileASL. http://mobileasl.cs.washington.edu/ http://mobileasl.cs.washington.edu/ Sorenson Communications. http://www.sorenson.com/press/reviews.php Sorenson Communications. http://www.sorenson.com/press/reviews.php http://www.sorenson.com/press/reviews.php “Video Relay Services.” Federal Communications Commission. http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/videor elay.html “Video Relay Services.” Federal Communications Commission. http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/videor elay.html http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/videor elay.html http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/videor elay.html