Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) allows someone using a TTY to communicate with someone using a standard voice telephone. The Communication Assistant (CA) at the TRS Center acts as a translator, typing to and reading from the TTY party, and speaking and listening to the voice party. TRS now uses toll-free voice lines for inbound calls, and some form of bulk lines for outbound calls. This does not reflect the unique nature of TTYs and TRS calls, nor does it use any cost-effective emerging technologies that could improve the service. At a time of rapidly falling telecommunications costs and rapidly rising network capabilities, TRS remains a communication backwater, both more expensive and less rich in function than it could be. This project will explore three Internet applications for TRS: 1.A TRS access gateway that will allow TTY users to reach TRS via local Internet access points. 2.A "chat" application that will allow people using the Internet to reach TRS directly without a TTY. 3.An extension to items 1 and 2 that uses the Internet for both the data and voice sides of a TRS call.Summary of anticipated results and implications: We expect that our technical and user interface explorations will result in both lower costs for providing TRS and an open platform on which new TRS features can be mounted. We believe that current TRS providers will be interested in adopting Internet TRS to reduce their costs. At the same time, lower capital and operating costs should attract new TRS providers, resulting in increased competition. TRS users will be attracted to the service that provides new features that respond to their needs. Technology innovators and even non-profit and advocacy organizations may be able to offer TRS, resulting in more rapid improvements in the service.
