Short reports:
-- PSION family
-- JAVA
-- Health at PC's

Tips and Tricks
-- Tips for Downloading
-- Tips for free surfing
-- Solutions of problems

The european union for Deaf (EUD) has invite all EU-countries to the seminar "MULTIMEDIA" from 8th till 11th of November 1996 in Helsinki. R.Sailer (DGB), A.Schneid (GMU) und S.Hartig (Mobily Com) were the paricipants.
Two sign interpreters has translated all english reports. 

1. day (saturday, 09th of Nov.)

General präsentation of the delegates from every country about the technical niveau of the communications technology for deaf people and so on.

* communications technology
  The deaf people use mainly text telephone or fax, video telephone
  (there are mostly projects)

* Television
   Own program for deaf people in some countries.

* Videotext
  Subtiling in programs (GB: 50% of all programs are subtiling!)

* Mix
  Information exchange with video film
  sign lexicon and sign course with CD-ROM
  Multimedia/Internet
  red alert for deaf people

There are following reports studies:

* "Multimedia" by Mr. Ari Kaaro, Finnland
  He has given important points for the concept about multimedia.

* "Video telephone" by Mr. Jan Delvert, Schweden
  Quality requests for the video telephone with signs
  He informs that the transmission oof ppictures per ISDN should be
  improved.
  Ideal: 25 pictures per second (12 pictures will be ok).
  ISDN, but it's not enough yet to get a clear picture with 1 contact
  (128 kB/s) .
  Picture telephone, text telephone, Fax and so on as an ideal
  dialogue device (Computer) for deaf people.

* Reports "Internet"by Mr. Kari Hintikka, Finnland and "Digital
  TV-Network" by Mrs. Kirsti Kurkela, Finnland

 2.day (Sunday, 10th of Nov.)

Further reports - Multimedia in learn process -

* 2 studies (development works) from england

* Software-sign course by Mr. D. Jackson.
  The user can train signs, finger alphabet ot text reading as desired on
  the PC: Therefore till now 3000 signs could be counted.

* Data base signs by Mr. D. Brien. All signs, elsewhere from stand
  picture or video film, has been collected and shared in more categories.
  The aim is, to produce a word lexikon on CD-ROM for deaf and hearing
  people.

* Possibilities with multimedia in the deaf school by Mr.G.Hellström.
  Multimedia; high potential for the training of deaf people. From the PC
  there are very good learn possibilities for deaf pupils i.e.classing with
  CD-ROM. Infos from and to the internet. Self working of signs.
  Information exchange with arrangement about video / speech telephone.

The delegates were divided into three groups for the workshop. The first task was to build up a resolution about multimedia/ sign language and to give it to the EUD. Before closing the seminar all participants were satisfied. EUD had been ordered, to give this resolution to the EU. It were been stressed always, that all EU countries at first reach the acknowledgement of the sign language. Everybody had said always, that the deaf people may not miss the train "multimedia".

With multimedia deaf people have good possibilities to communicate with hearing people. How? No problem: i.e. with internet or E-Mail, Publications from the federations with homepage, online services for hard of hearings. With multimedia it is possible to get more jobs in future. Of course for deaf people good chances!

Exhibitions:

- Bild telephone with ISDN (3 companies)
- Text telephone (company from finnland)
- Demo classes with signs per CD-ROM (i.e.wood and animals)
- Demo sign course per CD-ROM
- Editing (per word, if not understanding, it's possible to get a sign with
  video
- Mobile telephone (handy) for deaf people (fax / internet)

January 97
Stefan Hartig

The european union of the deaf people

MULTIMEDIA - A Communication Highway for the Deaf

HELSINKI, 9-10 November, 1996 - RESOLUTION

Background:

Deaf people in Europe constitute a large linguistic minority who communicate in Sign Language. Each national association of the Deaf strives to improve the status of the national Sign Language. Based on the recognition of Sign Languages in the European Parliament in 1988, the European Union of the Deaf launched a Sign Languages Project working to strengthen the status of Sign Language, and to increase awareness about and distribution of information on Sign Languages.

The European Union has drawn up a plan of action vis-á-vis the information society. The information society has profound effects on citizens´ everyday life, on interaction between people, on their communication and on culture.

Multimedia - the transmission of moving pictures, i.e. Sign Language - offers a wide range of new possibilities for promoting deaf people´s access to information, for furthering their opportunities to learn, to interact and to participate, and for ensuring their use of the services available to all citizens. The applications also provide hearing persons with the means for understanding the significance of Sign Language and Deaf culture, thereby promoting acceptance and building a bridge between Deaf and hearing people.

Multimedia applications give deaf persons the opportunity to become familiar with their own language and culture. It provides new means of communication and access to information e.g. through the Internet and ist World Wide Web, through e-mail and real time IRC chatting groups.

An important conclusion of this seminar is that multimedia has a future role in deaf education, particulary with respect to development of educational subjects and methods, multimedia educational material is disseminated in the primary language of deaf people, supported by text and pictures.

Resolutions:

Every citizen, including every deaf person, has the right to take an active part in the information society. This goal can only be reached if we take the needs of all citizens´groups into consideration. To this end, we must develop public services and the services provided by private individuals and communities, and we must increase and develop education. The Member States must therefore support and promote all citizens´freedom of speech and access to information, both economically and through legislative measures.

Deaf people must be included on an equal basis within the scope of the Information Society for All which has been adopted by the European Union. This principle is also included in the United Nations Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Person with Disabilities.

Networks to transmit moving pictures should be developed in all EU Member States. Deaf people and their organisations must be fully involved from the planning to the implementation of programs regarding new information technology and ist applications.

Schools and students must have access to an enormous network for distance learning; a network that even transcends national borders. For this reason, all Member States should give special support to the use of multimedia in Sign Language education.

Multimedia applications must also be available for promoting Sign Language research.

Deaf people in all countries should be guaranteed equal language rights!

Deaf people should have equal opportunity to take part in the information society in all countries!

Deaf people should have equal ethical and economic rights as well as equal access to the use and development of advanced communications technology!

Helsinki, 10th of November 1996
Participants of the Multimedia Seminar