The SoftBridge An Architecture for Bridging the Digital Divide

Overview In the real world, users access information in different ways, depending on their equipment and personal capabilities. In the real world, users access information in different ways, depending on their equipment and personal capabilities. This is one of the causes of the “Digital Divide” : people with different equipment cannot communicate effectively with one another. This is one of the causes of the “Digital Divide” : people with different equipment cannot communicate effectively with one another. This issue can be solved using the concept of a “Soft Bridge” This issue can be solved using the concept of a “Soft Bridge”

Soft Bridge A Soft Bridge is a system that allows users having different capabilities to communicate with each other. A Soft Bridge is a system that allows users having different capabilities to communicate with each other. It works by translating, or “Adapting” the information into a form that is usable by each party. It works by translating, or “Adapting” the information into a form that is usable by each party. It attempts to minimise information loss along the way; this leads to the concept of “Quality of Interaction” It attempts to minimise information loss along the way; this leads to the concept of “Quality of Interaction”

Quality of Interaction Quality of Interaction is a measure of how the telecommunication compares to “real” communication Quality of Interaction is a measure of how the telecommunication compares to “real” communication It is dependent on the capabilities of the system and the user It is dependent on the capabilities of the system and the user

Communication classes We define the following Communication Classes ordered from lowest to highest bandwidth : We define the following Communication Classes ordered from lowest to highest bandwidth : –Text –Speech –Video –Immersive VR

Adapters Adapters convert information from one class to another Adapters convert information from one class to another The useful adaptions are : The useful adaptions are : –Text/Voice –Voice/Text –Video/Voice –Video/Text

Overall Architecture Endpoint Adapter Endpoint Naming/Billing/Control

Internals of an Adapter Common Interface Text/Speech Control logic Speech/Text Control logic Etc… Driver Conversion software Conversion software Conversion software Data Stream

Prototype Inplementation Simple Prototype implemented using CORBA/C++ Simple Prototype implemented using CORBA/C++ Linux/Windows based controller, current client is in C++, but Linux/Windows based controller, current client is in C++, but Could be implemented using Java/.NET etc. Could be implemented using Java/.NET etc.

Prototype Implmentation Object located using COS NameService, or URLs. Object located using COS NameService, or URLs. NameService means object is location IP neutral, object can be moved without disruption. NameService means object is location IP neutral, object can be moved without disruption. Adapters convert text-to-speech Adapters convert text-to-speech Will soon implement speech-to-text Will soon implement speech-to-text

Prototype Architecture Broadcast Server Name Service Adapter Endpoint Adapter Endpoint Adapter Endpoint

Charging for the Service System would integrate with TINA based accounting services. System would integrate with TINA based accounting services. Charges would depend on the level of information transported (text, voice, video) or bandwidth consumed (ie. HQ voice = LQ video) Charges would depend on the level of information transported (text, voice, video) or bandwidth consumed (ie. HQ voice = LQ video)

Evaluation Final system will be tested on users to ascertain its effectiveness Final system will be tested on users to ascertain its effectiveness Technical performance testing will also be done Technical performance testing will also be done (Prototype will be pilot tested to see if any major changes need to be made)? (Prototype will be pilot tested to see if any major changes need to be made)?

Conclusion Developing system that will truly bridge the digital divide Developing system that will truly bridge the digital divide Help discover if quality of interaction is determined by equipment, personal capabilities, preferences Help discover if quality of interaction is determined by equipment, personal capabilities, preferences Enable service to be charged for Enable service to be charged for