June 23 2006

According to this article, LifeLinks Video Relay Services (VRS), a provider of video relay telephone-like service for the Deaf and hard of hearing community which uses sign language over high speed broadband video, has apparently experienced an unprecedented demand of late.

Reaching out to users around the world from its New York City, NY (USA) offices since 2002, LifeLinks aims "to provide quick, effective, and courteous communication linking the Deaf and hearing communities by means of advanced technology to experienced, professional video interpreters." The recent spike in demand for their services is, according to this article, due to the recently unveiled Sightspeed technology. Sightspeed is accessible from any location which has internet access, even wireless access, "thus offering unsurpassed mobility to the Deaf community." All of the software and services are free.

Specifically, the Deaf Sightspeed user can utilise Sightspeed's software to access a VRS interpreter 24 hours a day, every day of the year - free of charge. To access the service, the Deaf user copies and pastes the LifeLinks list of interpreters into his or her contact list. The LifeLinks sign language interpreters are proficient in American Sign Language (ASL); there are some Spanish-speaking interpreters on staff, and customer support is provided in English and Spanish by Deaf technical specialists. With LifeLinks VRS, the hard of hearing can telephone a hearing person anywhere, including long distance and international, at no cost. Deaf persons can also utilise the free Sightspeed software for interpersonal calls, without an interpreter, in a multiparty call involving 3 or more other persons (hearing or Deaf). LifeLinks VRS is also accessible using D-Link type videophone devices, which attach to a TV, by calling LifeLinks' IP addresses (llvrs.tv and 38.98.86.70).

These services are also designed to be useful to hearing persons. For example, at no cost, a hearing person can call a Deaf person (e.g., a hearing physician can call a Deaf patient and communicate live or leave a video mail message via a LifeLinks ASL interpreter). The service also enables hearing members of the Deaf person's household to make 2-cents-per-minute domestic long distance domestic telephone calls - to regular telephones (not just personal computer (PC) to PC).

According to this article, LifeLinks is "'running rings' around $2 billion Skype (owned by E-Bay) which has not specifically addressed the needs of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community and which advertises their intention to charge for PC-based [voice-over-internet protocol, or VOIP] telephone service after December 31 2006."

Article forwarded to the Bytes for All Readers listserv on June 26 2006 (click here to access the archives); LifeLinks website; and emails from Dale Christoferson to The Communication Initiative on July 10 2008 and July 11 2008.