Webcam, video phone to help deaf people

AAP ©

Sign language interpreters will be beamed into the homes and offices of deaf Australians via new technology that will enable messages to be relayed to hearing people.

The new technology, Multi-Media Response Service, requires deaf people to sign into a computer webcam or video phone so they can access a sign language interpreter.

The interpreter will in turn instantaneously relay their message to a hearing person over the phone.

High-speed broadband connection is needed.

"This will make every-day activities like talking with friends and loved ones, booking appointments and getting quotes for household jobs, easier and quicker," Tony Bennetts, spokesman at Australian Communication Exchange (ACE) said in a statement.

The ACE, which assists hearing impaired people access telephone and telecommunication networks, has been researching the technology for the past 10 years.

It will be trialled for two years, and funded by the ACE.

Deaf Australia spokeswoman Karen Lloyd said the Multi-Media Response Service would enable deaf and hard of hearing people to communicate faster, and offer them a more personal form of communication.

"For the past 20 years they've relied on telephone typewriters, followed more recently by email, SMS messaging and online chat rooms," she said.

"However, all of these are text-based forms of communication which can be slow and can't fully convey feelings and emotions the way voice and video communication can."

The Multi-Media Response Service will be available at various times between Monday and Friday from November 27.

The software can be accessed at www.videorelay.com.au