[Chapter-delegates] NEWS RELEASE: New Organization Promotes New Internet Text Streaming Technology

[Greg Wood]

Hello,

For your reference, the following news release is being distributed  
today in coordination with the R3TF.

Sincerely,
-Greg

New Organization Promotes New Internet Text Streaming Technology

Real-Time Text Taskforce (R3TF) promotes text equivalent to voice

OSS, NETHERLANDS and GENEVA, SWITZERLAND--1 February 2010--The Real- 
Time Text Taskforce (R3TF) today announced the establishment of an  
independent, open forum and centre of excellence where engineers,  
experts, motivated individuals, companies and organisations can work  
together to advance the adoption of Real-Time Text (RTT), a character- 
by-character streaming technology that provides immediacy for text- 
based communications, similar to what the telephone service provides  
for voice.

Arnoud van Wijk, Director of the R3TF stated: "With mature standards  
in place, it is time to implement and use RTT so that everybody can  
use it to communicate with each other in a more direct conversational  
way using text, regardless if you are a person with a hearing or  
speech disability or able to use voice. I am also excited to see the  
many new services that are possible with RTT."

As part of its Enabling Access Initiative, the Internet Society (ISOC)  
served as an incubator for the R3TF by providing coordination  
assistance, technical expertise and implementation support during the  
early stages of its development. The success and interest generated in  
the volunteer project led participants to develop the R3TF as an  
independent organisation.

Karen Rose, Director Access and Development Initiatives of ISOC said:  
"We're extremely pleased that the Real Time Text Taskforce is building  
on the success of its work over the past few years to develop the  
foundation for these new services. Real Time Text is a wonderful  
example of the open Internet's ability to provide a platform for new,  
innovative capabilities."

Building on established Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and  
International Telecommunications Union (ITU) standards, Real Time Text  
provides character-by-character streaming, enabling an immediacy not  
available with other text-based services such as SMS and Instant  
Messaging. This is especially important for people with a hearing or  
speech impairment, replicating the abilities telephone service  
provides for voice communication. The Real Time Text feature can be  
included in a call together with other media, such as video and audio,  
to create Total Conversation and other services with enhanced  
usability. It can also be used in situations where voice may not be  
appropriate such as meetings or noisy environments. The R3TF will  
focus on:

*	Guiding and advising on implementations of Real-Time Text (RTT)
*	Promoting interoperability of different RTT systems and services, and
*	Expanding awareness of RTT among industry, organizations, end-users  
and governments.

For more information, see: http://RealTimeText.org

About Real Time Text Task Force (R3TF)
The Real-Time Text Taskforce (R3TF) is an open forum and centre of  
excellence where engineers, experts, motivated individuals, companies  
and organisations work together and educate each to advance the wide  
spread adoption of Real-Time Text (RTT). More information is available  
at http://RealTimeText.org

About Internet Society
The Internet Society (ISOC) is a non-profit organization founded in  
1992 to provide leadership in Internet related standards, education,  
and policy. ISOC is the organizational home of the Internet  
Engineering Task Force (IETF), the Internet's premier technical  
standards body. With offices in Washington, D.C., and Geneva,  
Switzerland, it is dedicated to ensuring the open development,  
evolution, and use of the Internet for the benefit of people  
throughout the world. For more information see http://InternetSociety.org

Media Contacts
Arnoud van Wijk
R3TF
arnoud at realtimetext.org

Greg Wood
Internet Society
wood at isoc.org
+1-703-439-2145