The use of the mobile phone has become a part of many people’s life. Very few people can surpass the urge of not using one in a period of 24 hours. But as the majority of mobile users is excited to possess one, another group users do not enjoy fully what mobile phones offer. They are hearing impaired. Those of them who posses one, use the short message service commonly known as SMS or text.

This situation is about to change very soon, thanks to a team of American engineers. The engineers from the University of Washington announced that they have developed a mobile application that will be fitted on mobile phones to help those with hearing and speaking problems to communicate.

It will be the first time that a real time video transmitter – receiver fitted on a cell phone will operates in a mobile telephony network around the world. The technology will allow the use of sign language to its users. The first prototype will be put into use in the United States of America in 2010 and later adapted to networks around the world.

Funding of the project based in Seattle was donated by the American Foundation for Science. The team of 20 engineers can develop the software but cannot manufacture handsets. That’s why the availability of the devices will be restricted until a mobile phone manufacturer shows interests. Though a giant in mobile phone manufacturing has shown interest in the project, the talks remain at negotiation level.

Though the sight of the prototype on the Google owned You Tube website brought a lot of excitement around the world, the materialisation remains a real challenge in some parts of the world like Africa. For the video supported application to work, one needs higher bandwidth.

Despite the fact that East Africa has been hooked to fast internet, operators are yet to diverse the same in their network at affordable prices. Another challenge is the cost that device are going to retail in the local rates knowing very well that a majority of hearing impaired people live below the poverty line for lack of employment and many other reasons.

HAPAMEDIA