FACTSHEET Equipment Communicating online You ll find this factsheet useful if you are deaf or have hearing loss and want to know how apps and online services can help you to communicate. Contents Communicating online................................... 2 Instant messaging...................................... 2 Video-calling services.................................... 3 Translation apps....................................... 3 Apps to help you communicate over background noise................ 5 Social media......................................... 6 Further information..................................... 7 If you d like this factsheet in Braille, large print or audio, please contact our Information Line (see last page for contact details).
Communicating online 2 Communicating online In this factsheet we look at some of the most popular apps and online services that can help you to communicate, including those designed specifically for people who are deaf or have hearing loss. Some apps are only available for smartphones and tablets, other services are available for computers and laptops (desktop) too. Smartphones and tablets To find out whether you can use an app, you need to know whether it is compatible with your smartphone or tablet s mobile operating system. The majority of apps for smartphones and tablets are designed to run on Apple s ios and/or Google s Android mobile operating systems. Apple s ios is exclusively for Apple devices such as the iphone and ipad, whereas Google s Android is used in devices manufactured by companies such as Samsung, HTC, LG, Sony and Motorola. Other mobile operating systems include Research in Motion s BlackBerry, Nokia s Symbian and Microsoft s Windows Phone. Some, such as Microsoft s Windows 8, function as both a traditional desktop (computer) operating system and a mobile operating system. Computers and laptops For communicating online when at home and work, a personal computer or laptop may be more suitable than a smartphone or tablet. Most new computers and laptops will have a built-in camera and microphone for online communication, but some entry-level and older devices may not. Instant messaging Instant-messaging apps let you send and receive text and picture messages over the internet without paying for them. They re very easy to use. Just make sure you keep an eye on how much mobile data the apps use when you re not connected to Wi-Fi, if you have a monthly data limit. imessage This is Apple s standard and automatic text messaging service that allows you to send text and picture messages over the internet to anyone else using an ios device or Mac with imessage. WhatsApp With more than a billion users, WhatsApp is one of the most popular instant-messaging apps in the world. It s available for smartphones and tablets, and now you can connect your smartphone to your computer and use WhatsApp in your web browser, too. The free app allows you to exchange text messages, photos, videos and voice recordings with other WhatsApp users, for free, either in one-to-one conversations or
Communicating online 3 group chats. You can also make voice calls to other WhatsApp users free of charge. Available for iphone, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, Android and Nokia and desktop (web browser). GroupMe You can use the free GroupMe app for group chats on your smartphone, tablet or computer. People who don t want to use the app can still send and receive GroupMe messages through SMS, if they ve been added to the group. You can easily attach and send pictures, videos and web links. You can also send private messages through GroupMe, but only to others with the app. Available for ios, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone and desktop. Video-calling services Gone are the days when you needed a computer and a webcam to make video calls. Thanks to video-calling apps and services, you can now communicate with anyone face-to-face, wherever you are, which is particularly useful if you use sign language or lipread. Some apps just allow you to make video calls, whereas others let you combine video and text. Skype You can use Skype for free video calls, video messages, voice calls and text messaging with other Skype users. You can use Skype on your computer, smartphone or tablet. However, video quality will depend on the strength of your internet signal. Using Skype with Wi-Fi, rather than 3G or 4G mobile internet, tends to give a clearer video. Available for most mobile devices and desktop. Skype Qik If you like video calls, try out this free video instantmessaging service for smartphones only. You can record and share videos of up to 40 seconds with individual friends and groups. Available for Android, iphone and Windows Phone. Google Hangouts This is another free instantmessaging and voice- and video-calling app, which you can use for one-to-one or group conversations. Available for Android, ios and desktop. Translation apps Translation apps can help you to communicate with people who use different languages. They re useful at social events, appointments, on holiday and at work. But it s important to remember that they are not always 100% accurate. Their accuracy really depends on the quality of your input signal and internet connection. For example, if you are using speech as an input signal to translate into text, you need to try to have a clear speech signal with no or very little background noise. Personal or business Wi-Fi connections tend to provide a better internet signal than public Wi-Fi and 3G connections.
Communicating online 4 NGT Lite You can use the free Next Generation Text (NGT) Lite app to make a call over a smartphone, tablet or computer that s connected to the internet. You type your message and a relay assistant will translate it into speech for the person you re calling or they will translate your speech into text. If you re texting your messages, the relay assistant will type the reply of the person you re calling, so you can read it on your display. You can use the NGT app at home, in your office or on the move. You can also use the app to just text and read, like an instant-messaging app. The NGT service replaced the Text Relay service, but you can still use NGT in the same way you used Text Relay if you have a textphone and wish to call other textphone or telephone users, or if you have a telephone and wish to call someone who has a textphone. Visit www.ngts.org.uk to find out more. InterpreterNow This is a free British Sign Language (BSL) online interpreting service that is owned by the charity SignHealth. It lets businesses and public services communicate with BSL users in face-toface meetings, or over the phone. Through video relay, a BSL user can sign their message and the interpreter will translate it into speech for the non-bsl user, and vice versa. The cost of the service is paid for by the business or public service using InterpreterNow. You can only use the app to call the services that have signed up and agreed to pay for the calls, including a growing list of hundreds of GPs, dental practices and hospitals across the UK. The Access to Work scheme may agree to pay for InterpreterNow, so you can do your job. You can download the app for free on computers, smartphones and tablets. Visit www.interpreternow.co.uk to find out more. For more information on Access to Work, visit www.actiononhearingloss. org.uk/accesstowork
Communicating online 5 Google Translate This free app allows you to translate text, speech, text in images, or real-time video from one language into another. There are currently more than 90 languages supported at various levels, but not BSL. Translations can only be done when connected to the internet, but you can save previously converted speech and text to use offline. Available for Android, ios and Windows. Eye-Sign Eye-Sign is a new app that helps English speakers communicate with BSL users. You don t need to know how to sign. Simply start a new conversation and either type or speak and Eye-Sign will display a series of video clips to translate what you have said into sign language. You can also keep a record of conversations made on the app. Available for Android. Let ME Hear Again This is a great app for people with hearing loss. There is a free, basic version and a Pro version that costs 5.99. Both versions of the app have a Face to Face Chat function, which converts speech to text and vice versa. They also have the Virtual Notes function, which captures speeches and long conversations as text very useful for lectures or work meetings. You can edit the notes later, if you need to. The Pro version has two more functions: a Quake awake alarm, which produces a sound above 100dB and vibrates for two minutes to wake you up, and a Guardian Angel (a virtual cat called Angel), which searches for loud sounds in your surroundings to alert you to potential danger. If Angel catches something, it will start meowing very loudly and the phone will vibrate until you pick it up. Available for Android. Apps to help you communicate over background noise These apps are designed to reduce background noise and pick up the speech sounds that you want to hear by using your smartphone or tablet s microphone. However, you ll need to use the apps with listening devices such as headphones and neckloops, or hearing-aid-streaming Bluetooth devices. It s important to check what equipment you need before you download an app, to make sure you are able to use it. The apps can help you to maintain or improve your social life in noisy situations such as bars and restaurants, which you may otherwise avoid. BioAid This free app for ios devices allows you to use the microphone on your iphone or ipad as a basic hearing-aid listening device. It works by processing sound from the microphone and then playing it back over headphones
Communicating online 6 in real time. You can control the overall sound level and vary the rejection level of background sounds. You can use the app with any kind of headphones or earpieces, but you will need to use insertable earbuds that block out external sounds to fully benefit from the loudness control features. Available for ios. Aud-1 Visit www.bioaid.org.uk to find out more. This is an advanced version of the BioAid app, which costs 4.99 from the App Store. You can adjust the settings for each ear for improved sound quality and can better filter and control sound levels and pitch. Available for ios. The Action on Hearing Loss Facebook page and Twitter feed give you access to up-to-date information on events, news and services, and give you the chance to share experiences and information with others. Are you following us? actiononhearingloss @ActionOnHearing You can also visit our three online forums Deafness and hearing loss, Tinnitus and Products and equipment to share ideas and opinions. Visit www.actiononhearingloss. org.uk/forums Which apps and online services help you? Please let us know by emailing reviewpanel@hearingloss.org.uk Social media Social media is a powerful way to communicate not only with friends, family and colleagues but also with other people all over the world with similar interests. As well as accessing social media services through the internet browser on your computer, you can also access them through apps on your smartphone and tablet. The most popular social media sites are Facebook and Twitter, which both have groups for people who are deaf or have hearing loss. Need help getting online? We re supporting a new UK-wide project, Online Today, launched by RNIB, to give people with sight loss or hearing loss the skills they need to get the most out of technology and the internet. The project, funded by a 5.8m Big Lottery Fund grant, aims to help people with sensory loss enjoy the benefits of being online and understand how it can help with day-to-day life. Find out more at www.rnib.org.uk/online-today
Communicating online 7 Further information We produce a wide range of free information covering deafness, tinnitus, hearing loss and related issues. Our leaflets are a good place to start, as they cover the basics, while our factsheets (like this one) go into more detail. You can find our publications on our website at www.actiononhearingloss.org. uk/factsheets or order free copies from our Information Line (see last page). Information you can trust We are certified by The Information Standard as a producer of highquality, evidence-based information. All of the information about the apps and online services in this factsheet was sourced in November 2015 from the service providers websites. Can you help us improve our information? We d love to know what you think of this factsheet please email reviewpanel@hearingloss.org.uk And do let us know if you d like to join our Readers Panel, to help us create new publications and improve existing ones. Please help us support others We provide our leaflets, factsheets and Information Line service free of charge to anyone affected by deafness, tinnitus or hearing loss in the UK, but we rely on the generosity of our supporters to help us do this. We would be very grateful if you would consider making a donation of as little or as much as you can afford. You can send a cheque/po made payable to Action on Hearing Loss to: Action on Hearing Loss, FREEPOST LON13186, London EC1B 1AL Or you can make a donation online using a credit card, debit card or charity card. Please visit www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/icanhelp Thank you for your support.
Our purpose is to help people confronting deafness, tinnitus and hearing loss to live the life they choose. We enable them to take control of their lives and remove the barriers in their way. To find out more about what we do and how you can support us, go to www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk Action on Hearing Loss Information Line Telephone: 0808 808 0123 Textphone: 0808 808 9000 SMS: 0780 000 0360 (standard text message rates apply) Email: information@hearingloss.org.uk Join us www.facebook.com/actiononhearingloss www.twitter.com/actiononhearing Publication date: November 2015. Review date: November 2016. Action on Hearing Loss is the trading name of The Royal National Institute for Deaf People. A registered charity in England and Wales (207720) and Scotland (SC038926). A1205/1115. Version 1.