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WISDOM

Press release issued: 3 December 2003

A mobile video telecommunications service that enables deaf people to communicate with other people in their own language, sign language, will be on display to members of the public this Saturday [December 6].

A mobile video telecommunications service that enables deaf people, for the first time, to communicate with other people in their own language, sign language, anywhere, anytime, will be on display to members of the public this Saturday [December 6].

The event will enable people who are interested in deaf issues to try for themselves the innovative, user-friendly services and software.  The services, developed by WISDOM (Wireless Information Services for Deaf people on the Move), provide video sign language information to deaf people, anywhere and at anytime, and sign language relay and remote interpreting services, so that deaf people and hearing people can communicate with each other.

Alongside the hands-on exhibits, the day's programme will feature presentations by a number of the WISDOM partners.  The event will take place from 10 am to 2 pm at the Avon Gorge Hotel, Sion Hill, Clifton, Bristol.

Professor Jim Kyle, WISDOM Scientific Officer, said: "Today hearing people can expect to receive news and information wherever they are at most times of the day.  Deaf people have never had that luxury until now.  WISDOM has explored the possibilities of video communication in sign language while on the move, developed a prototype for sign language recognition and has set up systems for reaching sign language interpreters in order to allow communication with hearing people.  In addition, for the first time, a BSL service (Deaf Station) has been established where deaf people can see the news and information in their own language."

Chief Executive of the British Deaf Association, Jeff McWhinney, added: "The WISDOM project is a major breakthrough for deaf people.  For the first time, they are able to communicate with each other at a distance in their own language, sign language.  Significantly they are also able to access information in sign language, at any time and from anywhere.  Since WISDOM also incorporates text communication, it creates new opportunities for all deaf and hard of hearing people who have been excluded from telecommunications."

WISDOM is funded by the European Commission and by ten partners from the mobile communications industry, research and deaf organisations in four European countries.

The event is free, but places need to be requested in advance.  Please contact Astrid Domingo Molyneux, WISDOM Project Administrator on tel (0117) 954 6900, mobile 0778 607 6288, fax (0117) 954 6921 or email astrid.domingo@bristol.ac.uk

There will be BSL interpreters at the event.

WISDOM is based in the Centre for Deaf Studies at the University of Bristol.

The ten WISDOM partners are:

Ericsson España Research Department (EEM), Motion Media, Omnitor and Envilogg (Sweden),Vodafone Group Services Ltd, research centres in the University of Bristol and Aachen University of Technology (Germany), the Örebrö Tolkcentralen Interpreters Centre and deaf organisations in Sweden, Vaestanvik Resours and the UK, the British Deaf Association.

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