New generation wireless technologies impact on educational environments. Case: utilizing Finnish sign language in interpreter training

Abstract

This paper describes the impact of wireless technology development and penetration in creating future educational and research environments. Learning community colleges with city organisations and companies are working out their own solutions without telecom operators. Extremely cost effective ways of networking have been found with new generation 4G-wireless infrastructure in Turku now having the largest public 4G-network in Finland and probably one of the largest in the world. The above mentioned success has necessitated revaluation of the current and planned learning environments, ways-of-working and contents of research projects. The mobile sign language interpreting-research is used as a case-example. Interesting results have been gained in how sign language users could communicate in a mobile environment.