This document discusses deploying mobile total conversation applications to enable equal access to communication technologies for people with disabilities. Total conversation allows simultaneous use of video, audio, and text for sign language, lip reading, and texting. It is based on open standards and can be used for both everyday calls and emergency calls. The Reach112 project piloted this across Europe to improve accessibility of emergency services through relay calling and direct 112 emergency calls using total conversation. International testing showed standards-based total conversation can provide interoperable communication across borders. While mobile networks pose challenges like packet loss, total conversation on smartphones can provide wireless access to sign language calls and emergency services equivalent to voice calls for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

1. Deploying Mobile Total Conversation
for
Person-to-Person communication,
Emergency Service and
Relay Service Access
Lisa Åström
November 2011
AEGIS 2nd International Conference

2. UN Convention on
the Right of People with Disabilities
Equal access to telecommunications
Convention ratified by 99 countries
Still not equal

3. Functional equivalence for
accessible communication
The revolution is availability of powerful smartphones
The Telecommunications RERC at Trace Center
Android application for smartphones
Finally wireless calls in sign language equaling voice
calls the past 15 years
Concept of Total Conversation combining the three
media – video for sign language, real-time text and
voice
Valuable in everyday calls as well as Emergency calls

4. The Total Conversation Concept
Simultaneous use of video, audio, and real-time
text
Sign language, lip-reading, text for signing
deafblind
Based on open standards
Included in IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS)
Emergency Services standards from Internet Engineering
Task Force (IETF)
North America Emergency Number Association
(NENA)

5. REACH112 project in Europe
Pilot project in Europe – 7 countries
involved
Pilots in 5 countries
Two main goals
1. Roll out everyday calling using
Total Conversation with
interoperability
2. Accessible Emergency Services
Relay calling
112 emergency calling

6. International interoperability
Reach112 extensive testing
Well-defined standards in Total
Conversation
Only minor bug fixes needed
Exception the Netherlands a
transcoding gateway was developed
TC as a common set of protocol for
inter-op proved successful

7. Mobile networks
Differs from fixed nets
• Packet loss
• Net neturality
• Battery life
• Data roaming
• Front-side camera
• Processing power

8. Person-to-Person
Increase in quality of life
Older technologies:
• SMS
• 3G circuit switch video telephony
(compared to bad voice connection, what did you say?)

9. Relay Services Access
Total Conversation is compatible with many existing relay services
Gateways
ENUM
10-digit number in the USA

10. Emergency Services Access
Good motivator for making interoperable
Total Conversation solutions
Possible to use for emergency calls to112 in
Europe
In Sweden:
4 mins for call compared to
14 mins for SMS

11. This resource was developed with funding in part from the National Institute on
Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education,RERC on
Telecommunications Access, grant # H133E090001 . However, the contents do
not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you
should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.
Lisa Åström
lisa.astrom@omnitor.se
trace.wisc.edu
www.omnitor.se
www.reach112.eu