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Telecommunications, pillar of the Information Society 8 April 2005

Telecommunications, pillar of the Information Society 8 April 2005. Guido Gybels Director of New Technologies. About RNID. The largest charity representing the 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK Membership charity with over 34,000 members

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Telecommunications, pillar of the Information Society 8 April 2005

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  1. Telecommunications, pillar of the Information Society 8 April 2005 Guido Gybels Director of New Technologies

  2. About RNID • The largest charity representing the 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK • Membership charity with over 34,000 members • Over 1,300 employees, £42 million turnover We aim to achieve a radically better qualityof life for deaf and hard of hearing people • Campaigning and lobbying vigorously • Raising awareness of deafness/hearing loss • Providing services • Research and Development • Partnerships

  3. A world of information and communication • Information Society • Changing the way we live, work, educate,… • Telecommunication: critical aspect of the Information Society • More than just a trend, fundamental revolutionin societal order

  4. A historical development • 5 Million years of human development 00:00:00 Hominoids

  5. A historical development • 5 Million years of human development • 1 Million years of Homo Sapiens 19:12:00 Homo Sapiens

  6. A historical development • 5 Million years of human development • 1 Million years of Homo Sapiens • All known history: final 97 seconds on the clock 23:58:23 Prehistory to History

  7. A historical development • 5 Million years of human development • 1 Million years of Homo Sapiens • All known history: final 97 seconds on the clock • Modern Society (Industrial Revolution) only 4 seconds old 23:59:56 Industrial Revolution

  8. From hunter-gatherers to space flight… • 99% of human history: hunter-gatherers, nomadic lifestyle Hunter-gatherers

  9. From hunter-gatherers to space flight… • 99% of human history: hunter-gatherers, nomadic lifestyle • 10.000BC = Neolithic Revolution 10.000 BC Hunter-gatherers Agricultural Society

  10. From hunter-gatherers to space flight… • 99% of human history: hunter-gatherers, nomadic lifestyle • 10.000BC = Neolithic Revolution • Late 18th Century = Industrial Revolution • Science and Technology driven • Major impact on society Industrial Society 10.000 BC 1776 AD Hunter-gatherers Agricultural Society

  11. Telecommunications • Communicate remotely with anyone, anywhere, any time • From gadget to critical instrument • Full participation in society requires unfettered access to telecoms • Voice, video, text

  12. Technological progress: opportunity and threat • New technologies have empowered… • …can overcome previously unbreakable barriers… • …both also have raised new barriers to opportunity and fulfilment: Digital Divide • Hard of hearing and deaf people face serious problems in telecoms

  13. Hard of hearing people and telecoms • Don’t have equal access • Therefore often lose out in society • Industry has failed to deliver inclusive services and products • Focus on short term • Few inclusive, long term strategies • Free markets alone are not enough • We need to force the issue! • Technology can deliver!

  14. A few examples… • Interference of mobile phones with hearing aids • Lack of interactive texting solutions • Extended volume control, additional amplification • Incompatible and woefully designed accessories • …

  15. Relay services… • Technically, practically possible… • Yet not offered in many countries • Text-to-speech, Sign-to-speech, Speech-to-speech • RNID Typetalk: 37000 calls/week; 1.8m calls/annum

  16. The need for action… • Different people = different abilities and preferences • Perception of niche market • Political, legislative, regulatory action needed • Technology is there to be harnessed • Strong moral, ethical case • But also compelling economic,business case • Inclusive telecoms = benefit for everyone • Mainstreaming as opposed to nichetechnology • Human rights and non-discriminationlegislation

  17. …by all of us! • Working together • Across boundaries of interests, organisations • L’union fait la force • From Information Society to Inclusive Society

  18. Thank you! Questions? Comments?

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