> Does anyone have any ideas as to a minimum frame rate that would be required to hold an
> effective conversation in BSL using videophones or similar technology?
CCPD has been involved for two years in a Leonardo project managed by Camden
Borough Libraries aimed at using video-telephony over ISDN as a communictaion link for
signers. Its follow through three year project has just begun and is
aimed at building on the previous work to investigate the extent to
which such a technology can be used to build careers for deaf people
as information officers. The idea is that they would work for a bank
building society or public utility acting as an information provider
to deaf members of the public. The more outlets we have the better so
any new contact points would be welcome.
We used a class of our own local deaf trainees as evaluators of the
original phase and found the following:
The scan rate of about 15 fps was too slow to allow for normal
signing speeds and it was obvious how people adjusted and slowed down
very quickly.
As information is what is being transmitted, the quieter the
background the better. Having a person in a public room with all
sorts going on in the background made things much worse. A booth with
a plain backdrop would be optimum for system performance though may
not best suit the psychology of the situation.
Focussing was a problem. Automatic focussing systems could be made
available, just as they are on modern cameras, but would greatly
increase costs. Users tended to move to and from the camera which was
fix focussed at about four or five feet. Thus training in use was
important.
> Also, can this be achieved using something like a b/w Connectix QuickCam, possibly connected
> point-to-point with ISDN. I've read you can get 5-6fps using 28.8k modems over a non-direct
> route and I was hoping someone could corroborate this.
Judging by our experiences at around 15 frames I think 5/6 would be
very difficult. Signing would need to be slowed to such an extent I
imagine it might even change the meaning!
If you do go ahead let us know. Some of the Bristol undergraduates on
their signing based course could be ideal candidates for the Camden
project if we can establish a link.
Dave Laycock MBE
Head of CCPD, Chair of NFAC
Computer Centre for People with Disabilities
University of Westminster
72 Great Portland Street
London W1N 5AL
tel. 0171-911-5161
fax. 0171-911-5162
WWW home page: http://www.wmin.ac.uk/ccpd/
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