The world is changing all the time and new equipment and technology is developed. Lots of these new things can help D/deaf people be independent in today’s world. Please contact us if you want more information about any of these:
Smart Phones and Tablets
This is the mobile equipment you can use to access technology. If you have a smart phone (iPhone or android) these are small computers – you can access the internet on them. This means that you can do lots of things like book appointment at your doctors, use BSL interpreter to communicate direct to hospital staff, check travel time and bus arrivals.
NGT (Next Generation Text)
This is replacing the Minicom. You can put an ‘App’ (a programme) on your computer/phone/tablet and this lets you text an operator. The operator will phone the number for you and speak your words to the other person. When they reply, the operator will type the words back to you. This is free. – need use internet
Skype
This has been around for a long time. Skype allows you to video call someone who also has Skype. You can do this on a computer or a phone as long as you have a camera on it. You call them and they connect and you can both see each other. This is free.
Glide
This is an ‘App’ that is a video message. You record your message (up to 5 minutes) and if you not happy then delete it and do it again. When you happy then you can send it to one or many people at the same time – as long as they have the Glide app. They receive your message and can watch it live (the same time as you film it) or later. They can film a reply to you and you can see it when you are ready. Messages are kept for 2 weeks and then disappear.
FaceTime
This is only possible if you and other person has Apple computer, iPhone or iPad. FaceTime is a video call – you click on button and this dials the other person. If they answer the call then you can see them and they can see you. This is not filmed or recorded, it is live.
SMS/text?
All phones do SMS/text messages.
Iphones – different blue – imessage – (apple devices – iphone, ipads and mac computer) sent using internet, green – sent to phone that don’t have imessage
This is social network “website” can have app on phone. You can share pictures, words and videos. You can also “like” or react to things and comment on other people or pages’ statuses. It has a messenger feature where you can video call too.
Twitter, at its most basic, is a series of short online announcements or ‘tweets’ People can share other tweets, but this is called “Retweet”
What’s App
This is an app on the smartphone, it allows people to send messages, photo and video. You can video call people too. It is safe – means nobody see your messages unless you let them.