Including Accessibility and Human Factors in the Universalization of the Internet - How to reach persons with disabilities, the 10% of the next billion Hyderabad, India, 3-6 December 2008 Real-time Text: An Essential Accessibility Feature Arnoud van Wijk

IGF - Hyderabad, India, 3-6 December Real-Time vs. Static  When calling, we use audio and/or video. Such communications occur in real-time.  It is sent and received continuously and we take the real-time part for granted.  Mostly text is static, it is on the screen and does not change at all. –Websites –Newspapers – –Books

IGF - Hyderabad, India, 3-6 December Using text to communicate  We also use text to communicate a lot –Text messaging(SMS) and Instant Messaging.  But if we need to communicate more efficiently, audio is always used (pick up the phone and place a call). Not IM or SMS.  But what if you cannot use the telephone? –you cannot hear or speak? –you are in a situation where voice is inappropriate due background noise, meeting, restaurant, cinema, theatre or at a conference.  Text can also be real-time!

IGF - Hyderabad, India, 3-6 December What is Real-Time Text?  Text that is sent and received on a character by character basis. (multiple characters when typing very fast)  Characters are sent immediately once typed.  Characters are displayed immediately by the receiving person(s).  Like talking by using text. Talk by Text

IGF - Hyderabad, India, 3-6 December Real-Time Text vs. IM  How it would be if you depend on IM only for your communication  IM is wonderful for exchange of text while you are doing other things at same time.  IM is not good when you need to TALK with the other person.  If IM was good for telephony why do people always switch to voice communication?  IM is a great communication tool for the right situation and usage.

IGF - Hyderabad, India, 3-6 December Real-Time Text is standard!  Designed around the ITU-T T.140 real- time text presentation layer protocol. –T.140 allows real-time editing of text –Based on the ISO character set and uses the UTF-8 format. (just like this powerpoint slide!)  Uses the same Real-time Transport as VoIP and Video-over-IP. –encoded according to IETF RFC 4103 and is also called Text-over-IP (ToIP) –RFC 5194 describes the how, why and best way to implement

IGF - Hyderabad, India, 3-6 December  Website  Goal of the R3TF: –ensure that Real-Time Text is as readily available for all users as voice is. –R3TF will create and maintain a Roadmap that will provide the basis for the full deployment, seamless inter-operability and the future development and evolution of Real- Time Text as a mainstream feature/service.

IGF - Hyderabad, India, 3-6 December  R3TF – will promote the interoperability of Real- Time Text implementations with RFC4103 –will distribute information on the technology, its user requirements, and implementation and act as an educator on related issues. –is an open forum for engineers, motivated individuals, experts, companies, governments and organisations that wish to help test, implement, and advance the widespread adoption Real-Time Text.

IGF - Hyderabad, India, 3-6 December In summary:  All people can use Real-Time Text to talk using text whenever, wherever  Part of Internet telephony –Can be used simultaneously with voice and/or video. Total conversation. –also be used stand-alone for direct text to text conversations as a new text chatting function or even as an enchantment of IM.  People who are Deaf / Hard of Hearing can communicate without restrictions.  The R3TF will make this possible with your help!