Sign language app for deaf passengers

https://www.railwaygazette.com/news...ew/sign-language-app-for-deaf-passengers.html

ScotRail and InterpreterNow have introduced an app designed to make it easier for railway staff to communicate with deaf people using British Sign Language. The app can be installed on staff or customer smartphones, and provides immediate access to online British Sign Language interpreting via a video call.

Customers sign to the interpreter, who will then relay their query to the member of staff and sign back the answer.

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Seems a good idea. But I could not find any information about when the InterpreterNow service is available (24 h? 7 days a week?)

Adlington said:

https://www.railwaygazette.com/news...ew/sign-language-app-for-deaf-passengers.html
Seems a good idea. But I could not find any information about when the InterpreterNow service is available (24 h? 7 days a week?)

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They service has it's own dedicated website, but the FAQs don't seem to say if it is a 24/7 service, though I would imagine it is.

https://interpreternow.co.uk/

I'd suggest contacting them to clarify & perhaps ask them to add this question to their FAQs.

It is a 24/7 service, but it will depend what Scotrail have paid for! It is not cheap for companies, but an excellent tool

Deafdoggie said:

It is a 24/7 service, but it will depend what Scotrail have paid for! It is not cheap for companies, but an excellent tool

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Are you sure about it being 24/7? I am BSL user and have used the service in past, some organisations that have 24/7 telephone line and signed up with them still only have InterpreterNow up to 8 am to midnight.

What's wrong with using messaging service of some sort (SMS, WhatsApp, whatever..) instead?

Adlington said:

What's wrong with using messaging service of some sort (SMS, WhatsApp, whatever..) instead?

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There are a couple of issues with this:

1. When a messaging service is provided as an alternative, it is almost never instant. It's essentially a tick-box ticking exercise for higher ups to prove they've provided an accessibility option for deaf/hearing impaired people without any consideration as to how useful is it. A prime example is 999 SMS - unfortunately I've had to use this service a couple of times, it usually takes 5 or so minutes to receive a reply. It's really not possible to hold a conversation. This isn't the only example. I and many others simply do not trust anyone suggesting to provide it as a service for deaf/hearing impaired.

2. This is even a bigger consideration - many deaf people (as in, not those who became hearing impaired later in their age) struggle to read & write English well enough to hold a conversation. British Sign Language is their first language and it's the language they'll be most comfortable communicating their thoughts in, especially in situations of extreme distress.

Sweetjesus said:

There are a couple of issues with..................

.........2. This is even a bigger consideration - many deaf people (as in, not those who became hearing impaired later in their age) struggle to read & write English well enough to hold a conversation. British Sign Language is their first language and it's the language they'll be most comfortable communicating their thoughts in, especially in situations of extreme distress.

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Just to clarify: are you saying that a significant number of deaf people are not capable of communicating using written English?
Something seriously wrong if so...

randyrippley said:

Just to clarify: are you saying that a significant number of deaf people are not capable of not communicating using written English?
Something seriously wrong if so...

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Think about it...when you write something it corresponds with a sound that you hear, and there is a 'logic' that certain letters you write match that sound. Although BSL users do use lip movements to some extent, it is much harder to relate a sign to written words on paper. If you imagine us learning Chinese, the words we hear do not correspond to the written symbol. Of course, many BSL users use written English very successfully.

randyrippley said:

Just to clarify: are you saying that a significant number of deaf people are not capable of not communicating using written English?
Something seriously wrong if so...

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Indeed, but just for clarification for other readers, it is not the majority but significant portion of deaf people and no it's not "not capable of not communicating using written English" but rather "struggle to read & write English well enough to hold a conversation".

Railway use of formal language and less commonly used words (e.g. alight) makes it even more difficult for the significant portion of deaf people to understand them.

johnnychips said:

Think about it...when you write something it corresponds with a sound that you hear, and there is a 'logic' that certain letters you write match that sound. Although BSL users do use lip movements to some extent, it is much harder to relate a sign to written words on paper. If you imagine us learning Chinese, the words we hear do not correspond to the written symbol. Of course, many BSL users use written English very successfully.

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That's one of viewpoints. It explains why some of us struggle with English but that barrier can be easily overcame.

The simple answer as to why it wasn't overcame is subpar education and negligent parenting. (A significant portion of BSL users are unable to communicate with their own parents). I recall meeting some deaf people from a certain western Europe country who could write English better than us.

johnnychips said:

Think about it...when you write something it corresponds with a sound that you hear, and there is a 'logic' that certain letters you write match that sound. Although BSL users do use lip movements to some extent, it is much harder to relate a sign to written words on paper. If you imagine us learning Chinese, the words we hear do not correspond to the written symbol. Of course, many BSL users use written English very successfully.

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I understand what you're saying, I just hadn't realised our educational system was failing that badly

Sweetjesus said:

The simple answer as to why it wasn't overcame is subpar education and negligent parenting. (A significant portion of BSL users are unable to communicate with their own parents). I recall meeting some deaf people from a certain western Europe country who could write English better than us.

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Welcome to the forum. As you are a BSL user, you are the expert on here. I was just trying to explain why BSL users might find it harder to use written English - as I said, though, I know loads if BSL users who have overcome this.