(Internet) Real-time text: what is it?

• Real-time text is a display method for direct conversational text

  • Each character appears as it is typed by the other party

• It has real advantages in an emergency context

• It is not the opposite of instant messaging; the two can work beautifully together for 9-1-1

• But real-time text does not exist yet in messaging products

• And messaging products themselves are not interoperable