"Deaf children have been testing software that enables them to see a visual representation of sound waves.
Called Lumisonic the software translates sound waves into circles that radiate on a display.
It creates a real time representation of sound and is designed to elicit responses quickly in the human brain. "
"Vint Cerf, vice president at Google, is widely recognised as a founding father of the internet. He is also hard of hearing and has worn a hearing aid since the age of 13.
"One of the big challenges of the video medium is whether it can be made accessible to everyone," he told news agency AFP. "
"Trials are under way of a UK service allowing people to contact emergency services by text message.
The system is aimed at people who cannot make normal voice calls to the 999 service due to disability"