Techhead Interactive have launched a world first by providing wireless Teleschool facilities for deaf children in regional Australia. Thanks to the new Telstra Next G network, special schooling can now be conducted between the headquarters of the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children based in North Rocks and family homes in rural Australia.
"The Techhead team have been working on this project for over 3 years now and we are ecstatic that we not only have a working solution but 3 families are already benefiting from the technology" Techhead CEO Tim Fussell said. Over the last 2 weeks Anthony Wood, the Chief Operating Officer at Techhead Interactive has traveled to Dubbo for 2 installations and Stratheden near Casino for the third installation. All three families are up and running and very grateful for the technology that now allows them to gain access to specialised schooling previously only accessible to families living in the city.
The solution combines the latest Video Conferencing equipment from Polycom, with a CDCS commercial grade cellular router configured to operate over the Next G network into a Telstra IP WAN. In order to boost coverage in regional areas,Techhead also use Next G compatible antennas which provide increased signal strength in a fair coverage area.
This initiative will change the lives for many families around Australia and Techhead expect over 100 families to benefit from the technology.
The Technology
The video conference solution that operates over the Telstra Next G Network consists of the following components:
1. State of the art Polycom VSX 6000 Video Conferencing equipment
2. Commercial grade cellular router configured to operate over the Next G Network into a Telstra IP WAN
3. External mount antenna to boost coverage for homes in regional areas
4. Telstra Next G mobile service configured for access into the RIDBC IP WAN
What is the purpose of the RIDBC Teleschool
The new RIDBC Teleschool at North Rocks was officially opened by the Federal Minister for Community Services, Senator Nigel Cullion, on Monday 23 April 2007. The service is for hearing impaired children from birth to the end of their schooling, and for vision impaired children in their preschool years. The RIDBC Teleschool reaches out to children and families in rural, regional and remote locations who have special needs arising from deafness or blindness but cannot access the specialist services they need.
The cost of the service
The Teleschool service is provided to families free of charge, however the actual cost for each household solutions is approx $8,000 inc GST. In addition to the upfront cost there is an ongoing data and maintenance cost of $250 per month
Sponsorship opportunities for corporate Australia
If you would like to donate a Teleschool package to a family in regional Australia your support would be much appreciated and welcomed by the RIDBC. For more information about sponsorship opportunities please contact:
Tim Fussell
Chief Executive Officer
Techhead Interactive
P. + 612 9454 8811
Fax. 1300 65 79 90
E. tim@techhead.com.au
For more information about the technology:
If you would like more information about how this teleconferencing solution operates and how your organisation could benefit from the same technology please feel free to contact:
Stuart O'Callaghan
National Sales Manager
Techhead Interactive
Ph. + 612 9454 8818
Fax. 1300 65 79 90
Email. stuart@techhead.com.au
Website. www.techhead.com.au