Tag: hard

Vodafone Ireland Launches Critical Service for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Vodafone Ireland has announced the launch of Real-Time Text (RTT), a breakthrough accessibility service designed to improve emergency communications for the Deaf and hard of hearing community.
Vodafone Ireland is the first mobile operator in Ireland to introduce RTT, reaffirming its commitment to inclusive, barrier-free digital communication and connection.  The service is now available for emergency calls following pilot tests on the Vodafone network supported by BT ECAS and ComReg.
RTT is a next-generation messaging technology that enables text to be transmitted instantly, character by character, while maintaining a voice connection – eliminating the need to press “send.” This creates a more natural, fluid communication experience, particularly for deaf, hard of hearing, and speech-impaired users.
Vodafone Ireland customers using both Android and iOS devices can now activate Real-Time Text (RTT) directly via their handset accessibility settings. Once enabled, RTT allows users to send and receive text instantly during a call – making communication more accessible, especially for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
 Crucially, RTT is fully compatible with Ireland’s Emergency Call Answering Service, allowing users to communicate directly with 112 or 999 in real time. This capability can be lifesaving in urgent situations where every second counts.

Approximately 5%, almost 270,000, of the Irish population reports a hearing impairment, according to latest Census data. With the European Accessibility Act coming into effect last month, the need for inclusive digital communication has never been more urgent and RTT is a vital step forward in ensuring equal access for all, especially in critical services like emergency response.

The RTT service is natively supported on smartphones that meet international accessibility standards.
These devices allow character-by-character text transmission during voice calls, without requiring third-party apps or additional hardware. This ensures that users can communicate directly and immediately in emergency situations and in everyday interactions.
Commenting as the service was launched today, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan T.D. said:
“The introduction of Real-Time Text by Vodafone Ireland marks a significant milestone in our national journey towards digital equality. As the European Accessibility Act comes into force, it is heartening to see Irish tech leaders stepping up with meaningful innovation which instantly improves lives. Most importantly, RTT empowers people who are deaf or hard of hearing to access emergency services with the same immediacy and simplicity as anyone else. This is not just a technological advancement – it is a statement of inclusion, of equality and our shared commitment to building a digital society with universal access.

The RTT service is already available on the majority of Vodafone smartphones in Ireland right now, meaning the opportunity to make inclusive communication the norm is already in our hands.  I encourage not only the Deaf and hard of hearing community, but the wider public also to embrace RTT. By making it part of our everyday communication and help ensure it becomes a turning point for real inclusion in a more connected society – one where everyone has the tools to engage, contribute and to be heard.”

Welcoming the launch, Chief Executive of Vodafone Ireland, Sabrina Casalta, said:

“At Vodafone Ireland, we’re committed to keeping everyone connected – our mission is to ensure digital access and connectivity for everyone, everywhere. RTT represents a significant step forward in digital accessibility, especially in emergency scenarios where real-time communication can save lives.  We are proud to be the first in Ireland and one of the leaders in Europe to bring this innovative service to market, that we believe can change lives for the better. The RTT launch has been developed in partnership with government stakeholders, accessibility advocates, and emergency response teams. Vodafone’s RTT deployment places Ireland at the forefront of inclusive tech innovation in Europe.”
Speaking at the launch, Mark Byrne,  CEO of Chime, Ireland’s national charity for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people said:
“Chime is excited to see Vodafone Ireland leading the way in ensuring crucial accessibility to emergency services through its RTT service. We know this is a major challenge for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people who face barriers in reaching emergency services when they need to.
We commend Vodafone for gathering important feedback from Irish Sign Language users on the RTT, ensuring inclusivity for everyone. We hope to see further investment and expansion of digital accessibility across the communications sector in Ireland.”
Vodafone is Ireland’s leading total communications provider with 2.4 million customers and employs over 2,000 people directly and indirectly in Ireland. Next year, Vodafone Ireland will mark 25 years in Ireland. Vodafone Ireland was recently named Ireland’s best mobile operator for the 10th year in a row by independent benchmarking organisation, umlaut. Vodafone Ireland was also recognised as Best in Reliability, Best in Voice, and Best in Crowdsourced Reliability.
What is Real-Time Text (RTT)?
RTT is an accessibility service that allows text to be transmitted instantly as it’s typed, allowing for natural, real-time conversations. Unlike traditional SMS or legacy TTY systems, RTT doesn’t require waiting for a full message to be typed before transmission. It is especially useful for Deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired users and supports full interaction with emergency numbers 112 and 999.
How to Enable RTT on Your Device
Vodafone Ireland customers using both Android and iOS devices can now activate Real-Time Text (RTT) directly from their handset settings.
·       On Android, users can go to Settings > Accessibility > Hearing > RTT and toggle the feature on.
·       iPhone users can enable RTT by navigating to Settings > Accessibility > RTT/TTY and switching on “Software RTT.” Once enabled, RTT allows users to send and receive text instantly during a call — making communication more accessible, especially for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
For more information, please visit www.vodafone.ie.

Play hard, work hard – gamers make better managers, says study

There was a time, and not so long ago, when a propensity for video games was seen as the polar opposite of having what it takes to be successful in business. Now, however, as we enter the mid-2020, things are different. In key markets like Australia, where migration patterns are dictated by industry need, tech is now a top three sector, and gaming is one of the fastest growing niches. 

But even in careers that have no direct correlation with gaming, skill with a game controller can be an indicator of success in the board room. That at least, is the conclusion drawn by a study published by Alexander Simons of the University of Lichtenstein. Let’s dig a little deeper. 

Video gaming skills correspond to managerial skills

Dr Simons used the 2011 strategy game Civilization to explore whether gaming skills in this context are in any way indicative of managerial skills and, if so, of what specific skills. He and his team worked with 40 volunteer business students and asked them to play the game and participate in a set of exercises under controlled conditions. 

The study found that students with higher scores in the game were the same as those who exhibited better skills related to problem-solving, planning and organizational tasks in the context of their business studies. Dr Simons has also performed some analysis on more qualitative in-game data such as player interactions and in-game messages. He believes that these could provide further insights into personality traits. 

Dr Simons concluded that there is certainly value in using games like Civilization to assess specific management skills related to problem-solving, planning and organization. He recommended the gathering and analysis of in-game data to derive useful insights for profilers, head hunters and others searching for talent. 

The deeper analysis into more qualitative aspects is still ongoing, and Dr Simons commented that he intends not only to continue with the analysis of data from this study, but also to carry out more studies over the coming months. These will look at how Civilization, and indeed other games, can help with assessing management capabilities.

Taking the studies beyond the casino

This is not the first study to compare gaming performance with business success. However, past studies have usually focused on gambling games, especially in nations like Australia, where gambling is part of the national culture. There has been plenty of discussion over the past year or two in the Australian media about gambling, and not just the negative aspects that always seem to hit the headlines. We also see studies correlating poker success with business success in Australia or comparing the way someone plays online pokies in Australia to their risk appetite at work.

In addition, these studies have looked at how the more successful gamblers are the ones who are best at eliminating bias and seeing what is before them – whether it is a hand of cards, a set of symbols on a pokie or perhaps a draft contract drawn up by a potential client. This provides an interesting perspective, as it takes the study of gambling behavior beyond the usual formulaic territories of risk and return – important though these are. 

Saving time and money for recruiters

Dr Markus Weinmann, who worked alongside Dr Simons on the study, remarked that the assessment process employed was broadly similar to that which is already used by many large organizations in their recruitment processes, but with one notable difference. While they spend thousands developing specific games in-house, this method uses a real game that anyone can download for the price of a couple of cups of coffee. 

The next phase of results from the study will be released later this year, and we await their publication with interest.