AOL is giving those who are deaf and hard of hearing a new avenue for instant messaging which will let them watch text conversations unfold one letter at a time. This feature is currently available in the just released beta version 6.8 of AOL’s AIM software.

This new feature, developed in conjunction with Gallaudet University and the Trace Research and Development Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, lets users see “each letter that a buddy types rather than waiting for a friend to press the send button to view and read a message. This enables deaf users to respond and react to words as they are typed just as hearing people would do as words are spoken in a voice conversation.”

AOL added those who wish to use this feature both must use the 6.8 version of AIM which includes the real time IM functionality. The feature is built specifically off of a prototype developed by Norman Williams, a senior research engineer for the Technology Access Program at Gallaudet University.

AIM 6.8 Beta