DIEL

What are the Difficulties (Opportunities)?

Oftel Mobile Workshop14th November 2001

Bob Twitchin

Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Telecommunications for Disabled

and Elderly People (DIEL)

DIEL

Impairments Restricting Access/Choice (1)

• DEXTERITY - also older people• HEARING - Range

– Profound deafness:from Birth: Sign/TextAcquired: Text

– Hard of Hearing: Hearing Aid UsersSome Loss:

Amplify?

• DEAF/BLIND - Sp. Equipment/interface

DIEL

Impairments Restricting Access/Choice (2)

• SIGHT – Blindness: Audio equivalent/Voice Activate– Impaired: large keyboard/displays

• SPEECH:Text

• Learning Disability: Simplicity (Older)

• LOW INCOME: Many disabled people

DIEL

ALSO,

• Many disabled and older people have impaired mobility.

• This often increases the importance of mobile communication for them, for example in emergencies.

DIEL

Some Issues (1.)• ACCESS TO TEXT RELAY SERVICE

for text phone users/hearing customers

• EMERGENCY SERVICES ACCESS– Short code for text users– provision for HoH people (SMS option?)

• VISUAL EQUIVALENT FOR AUDIO– Call progress announcements– top up credit for text users

DIEL

Some Issues (2.)• REBATE FOR TEXT CALLS

• VOICE ACTUATION OF NETWORK SERVICES

• INTERNET ACCESS

• DIRECTORY ENQUIRY WITH CONNECTION AT STANDARD RATE

DIEL

Some Issues (3.)

• TRAINING FOR CALL CENTRE & OTHER STAFF

• PRODUCTS/SERVICES GUIDE

• PRIORITY FAULT REPAIR

• THIRD PARTY CONTACT