Video Telephones and Norwegian Sign Language. Systemic constraints on communication in a visual-spatial channel

A presentation of some findings from an evaluation of a prototype video telephone system developed by Tandberg Telecom and the Norwegian Telecom Research Department. In this particular study, communication in Norwegian Sign Language was used as a means of evaluting the functionality of the system. Eight deaf informants were asked to use the the video telephone to communicate in Norwegian Sign Language between Oslo and Trondheim. Videotape recordings were made of these conversations and used to investigate how the reduced temporal and spatial resoluton of the video telephone system influenced different aspects of sign language use. A more detailed description of the study is given in report published by the Norwegian Center for Sign Language Research.