 |
Rybena: a java
R&D project boosting the DIGITAL INCLUSION of INDIVIDUALS with
Special Needs, Through Mobile Communication.
|
CONTENT
A large number of deaf individuals use cell
phones as a means of communication through the exchange of SMS e-mails.
This service presents many problems, among which are the uncertain arrival
of messages to their destination and delays of up to 24 hours in the message
processing. For this reason, the group involved in the JavaS Program decided
to develop a Java communication system (chat), which provided for better
written communication in both directions, between sender and receiver.
As half the deaf population is found to be illiterate and, therefore,
would not have access to this chat application, it was decided that the
communication language would also include LIBRAS, since this language
is used by about 60% of the Brazilian deaf community (AJA, 2003). As the
technological support required for this project was beyond the resources
the DFJUG had available, the DFJUG made an agreement with the Center of
Research and Development in Software Technology - CTS to provide the funds
necessary for system development, logistics and technological infrastructure
as well as financial support, when required.
Scope
The Rybena project, developed by the DFJUG represents
the effort of a community concerned with the digital inclusion of individuals
with special needs, particularly the deaf and blind communities.
The Problem
| The problem |
Enabling access of individuals with
special needs to means of mobile communication |
| Affecting |
3.5% of the Brazilian individuals with
special needs and their relatives |
| The impact |
Social inclusion: work opportunities, access to means of communication,
performing simple bank services, and even the safety of individuals
with special needs
|
| A successful solution |
The Rybena project, enabling a deaf
to communicate with a blind |
Users’ and Interested Individuals’
Key Needs
- Communication between hearing and deaf individuals
- Making a reading device from cell-phone screen to
voice available so as to reach the blind community
- Offering the means for a deaf to generate SMS messages
to be converted into sound using the capabilities built in a Java enabled
cell phone
- Making communication via cell phone between deaf and
blind individuals feasable
Our Solution
The first stage of the project intends to provide the
basic infrastructure required for enabling communication between hearing
and deaf individuals.
This stage has five objectives: (i) adapt a prevalence data model (Prevayler)
to cell phones, (ii) implement JMS services, (iii) make a LIBRAS library
available, (iv) adapt the Rybena solution to transform the cell phone
into a universal translator and (v) deploy a LIBRAS training course on
cell phones. This paper presents the results attained in the first stage.
The project’s additional objectives are making a reading device from
cell-phone screen to voice available so as to reach the blind community
(stage 2); offering the means for a deaf individual to generate SMS messages
to be converted into sound using the capabilities built in a cell phone
(stage 3); and, finally, making communication via cell phone between deaf
and blind individuals feasible (stage 4).
Project Risk List
| Risk |
Priority |
Possible Actions |
| Setting up a LIBRAS library |
High
|
Involving the INES – Instituto
Nacional de Educação de Surdos (National Institute for
Deaf Education), of the Brazilian Ministry of Education (MEC) to complete
the scope of the initial words for the dictionary. |
Making the technology to implement the
JMS service feasible
Adapting a prevalence data model to cell phones |
High
|
Involving experts in:
- JMS – JORAM
- Prevalence data in cell phones
|
introduction | content
| the project | current
situation | final remarks
|
