Video Relay Service facts for kids

VRS or Video Relay Service is a special service that helps deaf or hard of hearing people make phone calls. It lets them use sign language to talk with others. This service has mostly taken the place of older devices like the TTY for phone calls.

What is Video Relay Service?

Video Relay Service (VRS) helps people who use sign language communicate over the phone. It's like a bridge between a deaf person and a hearing person. This service makes it easier for everyone to talk to friends, family, and even businesses.

How Does VRS Work?

VRS uses a video camera and a fast internet connection. Here's how a call usually works:

• A deaf or hard of hearing person uses a video phone or computer.
• They connect to a professional interpreter who appears on their screen.
• The deaf person signs their message to the interpreter.
• The interpreter then speaks the message to the hearing person on the phone.
• When the hearing person replies, the interpreter signs their words back to the deaf person.

This way, both people can have a smooth conversation, even if they speak different languages (sign language and spoken language).

A Brief History of VRS

The idea for Video Relay Service started in the 1990s in a country called Sweden. It was a new way to help people communicate. In the early 2000s, VRS became available in the United States. Now, people in many countries can use VRS to make or receive calls from almost anywhere in the world. It has made phone communication much more accessible for deaf and hard of hearing people.

Images for kids

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  A deaf or hard-of-hearing person at his workplace using a VRS to communicate with a hearing person in London.

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  A person at her workplace communicating with a hearing person via a Video Interpreter (VI) and use of sign language.