EyeGaze People

Neil FinlayNeil Finlay is a communication, multimedia design and implementation specialist who has spent his career building an impressive portfolio of skills for a diverse range of projects.

The essence of good design is as a vehicle for outstanding content and tackling these two elements in tandem is at the root of Neil’s communication philosophy. From environmental data to academic research and commercial projects Neil has had to adapt to resolve all the challenges placed in front of him.

Currently working on a mixture of communication, design and development projects for the web and handheld devices Neil continues to explore new areas of media delivery.

  • User Interface design and implementation
  • Streaming British Sign Language video over mobile telecommunication networks (GPRS and 3G)
  • Adobe Flash and its FLV video format
  • Content Management Systems
  • DVD design and production
  • Hand-held guides for museums and galleries
  • GPS triggered multimedia on Pocket PC.

Mick Canavan is the father of two children one of whom is bilingual in British Sign Language and Mick Canavanwritten English, the other who is tri-lingual in French, English and British Sign Language. Mick became interested and passionately involved in Deaf politics after the ‘recognition’ that his first daughter was Deaf almost 9 years ago. Mick moved from Brighton to Bristol so that his daughter could be educated at Elmfield school, one of the few schools where children are taught in British Sign Language and where their Deaf identity is treated with respect. Bristol also offered the chance to work at the Centre for Deaf Studies at Bristol University and Mick worked on the following projects:

  • TelSign (Telecommunications and Sign Language) – a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) funded project which focused upon the trabsmission and reception of sign language over the internet, mobile phone networks and ISDN networks. See full report
  • TCALL (TeleCommunications for ALL) - which was concerned with mobile text messaging and data communication. (Must get report)
  • SignWorks - a DTI funded project which developed the world’s first sign language video information server.
  • WISDOM (Wireless Information Services for Deaf People on the Move) – focusing upon the delivery of mobile information services to Deaf people using third generation mobile phone networks.

Mick also partnered Joe Sabolcec in setting up one of the first videophone trials to take place with Deaf children and their families, called the ‘Bristol Videophone Project’.