Publications

PhoneAbility itself produces highly informative publications on telecommunications and disability. We also collaborate actively with other organisations in the production of associated publications. 

Please find below a chronological list of publications written by PhoneAbility members with links to the HTML versions.

Watching mobile television at the Games

Jim Slater
2008

  • This technical reports discusses the turning of mobile television from a vision to a reality and that fact that it is only the remarkable track record of commercially competing mobile phone companies in making things work that can lead to any confidence that everything will be in place to enable a viable mobile television system which is rugged, reliable and available everywhere in 2012.

Accessibility for visitors

Accessibility for visitorsJohn Gill
2007

  • To date, most of the special provision for visitors with a disability relates to providing access for wheelchairs or the installation of hearing aid loops. However, the advent of a range of new mainstream technologies offers exciting possibilities for providing new services which can greatly help blind and partially sighted visitors, or people with other disabilities, or those who need assistance in other ways. It is important to remember that in most cases improving these services will also be of benefit to non-disabled visitors. Dr John Gill discusses how to make facilities and services more accessible for everyone within the context of the upcoming 2012 Olympic Games.

Involving people with disabilities in the standardisation process

Involving people with disabilities in standardisation coverJohn Gill
2007

  • Standards play an increasingly important role for information and communication technology (ICT) systems, not just in specifying the technical interfaces but also for aspects such as the user interface and interoperability with other systems. The primary purpose of standards is to facilitate trade, and the standardisation bodies are funded accordingly, but there is an increasing awareness of the importance of consumer representation in the process. Unfortunately, this representation is often difficult to bring about because of the cost of participating and the specialist expertise which is essential to the process.

Equal measures: Closing the accessibility gap

Equal measures coverEdited by Tony Shipley & John Gill
2005

  • The aim of this publication is to show how, with a degree of European co-operation, the powers devolved to national regulators can be applied to close the gap and bring in short- term measures that are consistent with the overall framework while addressing immediate problems of accessibility.

Making life easier: How new telecommunication services could benefit people with disabilities

Making life easier coverEdited by John Gill
2005

  • This publication has been designed to show how new types of telecommunication services could be designed in ways that would be of benefit to people with disabilities.

Restricted communication? What should disabled people expect from OFCOM?

Restricted communication? coverTony Shipley & John Gill
2002
Published by Royal National Institute of the Blind in collaboration with PhoneAbility

  • Due to the convergence of electronic media, such as Telecommunications, Broadcasting and the Internet, these are no longer mutually exclusive activities that can be treated in isolation. Hence, in 2003 the creation of OFCOM occurred to be a single regulator for the new era of electronic communication. This booklet incorporates a commentary on the main technological features of the converging technology, to provide the necessary background for examination of the responsibilities OFCOM will have to protect the interests of consumers, specifically consumers with disabilities.

Bridging the gap? - Access to telecommunications for all people

Edited by Patrick Roe
2001

  • This book is a collaborative effort with contributions from more than twenty experts from all over the world. It will give the reader a snapshot of the latest situation concerning the development of telecommunications products and services for disabled and older people and all the related issues.

Telecommunications services: Access by disabled people

Tony Shipley
2001

  • A number of organisations which represent the interests of disabled and elderly people in the UK are concerned at the lack of progress in making services more accessible. This paper lays out the issues and objectives that they believe should be discussed at the planning stage of telecommunications products.

Telecommunications terminals supply - A universal service model

Dr John Gill & Tony Shipley
2001

  • This paper opens the discussion on the need for accessible and affordable basic telecommunication services which is widely recognised and is strongly supported by European Union Directives.

Telecommunications Charter - The response

Brian Perrett
2001

  • In 1998 PhoneAbility created a Charter for organisations to sign up to influence best practice in telecommunications. This document highlights the responses to this Charter.

Call barred? Inclusive design of wireless systems

Call barred? coverTony Shipley & John Gill
2000
Published by Royal National Institute for the Blind on behalf of PhoneAbility in collaboration with COST 219bis

  • We are moving into a new age of telecommunications. Wireless links are replacing cable. Cessation of manufacture of fixed terminals has already been predicted. What commercial and technological factors are pushing development of wireless communication systems? Is there a risk that vital market sectors will be overlooked? Will older people and those with disabilities be left out? Their numbers are large and their spending power significant, but do they figure in the market-leaders' calculations? These are crucial questions in need of urgent answer and this booklet seeks to show why previous measures that proved so successful in relation to the built environment may not work here. It also tries to explain why the industry should, in its own interests, take a pro-active role in promoting inclusivity in its products and services.

The Disability Discrimination Act -The European dimension

Tony Shipley
2000

  • This paper illustrates how the Disability Discrimination Act exists in harmony with European law by reference to the sector of telecommunications.

Interference and electro-magnetic compatability

Tony Shipley
2000

  • Is there an interference problem between mobile phones and hearing aids? If so, how can it be solved? This commentary explores some of the non-technical issues.

Telephones - What features do disabled people need?

Telephones coverJohn Gill & Tony Shipley
1999
Published by Royal National Institute for the Blind on behalf of PhoneAbility
supported by Department of Trade and Industry and British Telecommunications plc

  • This booklet has two main sections. The first provides information on the types of disability associated with difficulties in using telephones. Each category is shown with its own specific list of possible helpful features. The second section provides information on these features. While it would not be possible to include all of these features in a single telephone instrument, manufacturers should consider incorporating selected combinations of them to make their product ranges more attractive to disabled users.

Outwardly mobile: What can disabled users expect from UMTS, the new generation in mobile communications?

Outwardly mobileTony Shipley
1999
Published by Royal National Institute for the Blind on behalf of PhoneAbility

  • UMTS, standing for Universal Mobile Telephone System, is the name given to the third generation of modern mobile telephone services. It is bound to have a dramatic effect on the lives of every citizen and this booklet explores the benefits for disabled users.

Telecommunications Charter

PhoneAbility
1998

  • The Telecommunications Charter was created and positioned as a statement of aspiration. The suggestion was that adoption of the Charter would create an environment where organisations that signed up would be indicating a willingness to work together towards best practice that would, over time, resolve many of the important tele-communications issues facing older and disabled people.

Disaster or opportunity? The impact of telecommunications deregulation on people with disabilities

Disaster or opportunity? coverJohn Gill & Tony Shipley
1997

  • This booklet promotes the issues faced by people with disabilities over the liberalization and deregulation of Telecommunications services in the European Union in January 1998. This deregulation introduced full competition to services which had originally been operated by national monopolies.

Universal Service: What is it and is it important?

Dr John Gill
1996

  • This paper discusses the meaning of Universal Service, what it is, why it is important and Oftel's consultative document on it.

Hearing aids and telephones

Dr John Gill
1995

  • Hearing aid users often find that they have difficulties when using the telephone. In fact many people take their hearing aids out or use the phone on the other ear, if they have sufficient hearing in it. This report details some ways to reduce these difficulties and make better use of the telephone and the hearing aid.

Relay services

Dr John Gill
1995

  • This report explains the relay services that make telephones easier for deaf people to use.