History

Tadeo important dates

• December 2006 : Launch of the feasibility study
• April 2007 : Validation of the study
• October 2007 : Launch of the experimental phase
• April 2008: Delta Process and its partners decide to create the 1st platform of communication for professional use.
• Summer 2008 : Creation of the platform prototype

Tadeo's origin

On September 2006, a big company discovers the “Vic” solution developed by Delta Process, a commercial architecture company and multimedia tools designer.

The Vic solution is :

• • a transfer of voice and webcam pictures technology on Internet
• a concept of distant shared resources

Its objective : deliver remote expertise.

Based on this solution, Delta Process was proposed to study an adaptation of this system to the needs of communication between hearing and deaf or hard-of-hearing persons on professional environment.

Following the concept of shared recourses, other big companies joined the project in order to create a specific service dedicated to professional use. On December 2006, Delta Process and its partners began the feasibility study, being Delta the project leader.

The goal :

• prevent discrimination at work,
• facilitate the professional integration,
• guarantee the maintenance of employment,
• allow professional evolution and the exercise of their profession.

The stages :

the feasibility study

It would have been possible to install a service where interpreters/transcribers and users would have communicated throughout an ADSL line, but naturally, without knowing the needs of the protagonists and the various environments, it would have contributed to a failure.

It was necessary to make a study to consider the specific needs of professional environment and propose an adapted service.

The study lasted 4 months, from December 2006 - until April 2007.

It allowed Delta Process to:

• Analyze the economic, financial, technical and human environment,
• Clarify the conditions and needs of enterprise, deaf and hearing co-workers, sign language interpreters and the transcribers.

At the end of this period, the study was decisive; Delta Process was ready to advance to the following step.

Experimental Phase

On October 1st 2007, Tadeo's experimental phase was launched.

The goal was to participate on the definition of the functional specifications of the service.

The objective:

• Identify the different uses of the service in order to set the limits and the perimeters of specific professional environments.
• Satisfy the needs of: companies, hearing, deaf or hard hearing persons, shorthand typist and interpreters.

Experience feedback

Tadeo was experimented by numerous deaf and hard-of-hearing and hearing users, with multidisciplinary professions and functions: workers, employees, executives, company manager, publisher, accountants, graphic designers, engineers, computer specialists, assistants, developers, technicians, etc.

French Sign Language or Written transcription was used depending on the communication needs :

• Phone calls,
• Conference calls,
• Interviews,
• Training course,
• Meetings,
• International Exchanges (a deaf co-worker expresses himself in French Sign Language with a hearing person who speaks English).

The experience feedback was very positive. Managers and co-workers visualized the future differently: autonomy, responsibility, greater understanding of the others, the participation and animation of meetings and training courses, but mainly, evolution on professional fields that were, until then, closed…


Summer 2008: First platform of communication between hearing and deaf or hard-of- hearing persons for professional use.

The 1st platform intended to assure communication between hearing and deaf or hard-of- hearing persons in professional environment was available for use. The objective was to develop and test the service, on the basis of the data collected during the study.

The goal was to deliver a service « as simple as a phone call », available in only one click, at any time and without booking.

The service reached gradually a critical minimum size, allowing to define and to qualify the service, which permitted to determine the operational specifications.