Quick Links
Cordial greetings and welcome to T A F N, a UK based charity and online network of blind & visually impaired people and their partners, who communicate from home via internet voice conferencing.
TAFN Communicator - our private Voice Conferencing Server.
T A F N - The Accessible Friends Network - is a UK based charity and online network of blind & visually impaired people and their partners, who use assistive technology to communicate from home via internet voice conferencing. We offer technical support, training and a whole range of realtime activities to blind & V I computer users via the internet and although UK based we also have a growing number of members from overseas.
To connect to TAFN Communicator, our private VoIp server, you will need the free chat client program, VIP Communicator 2.05. This program has built in speech, is easy to use, and fully accessible to screen reader software including JAWS, Windoweyes, Hal, System Access and NVDA* . All that's required to connect to our Communicator server - after completing our online signup form for a guest account - is a broadband connected PC with a microphone or headset, with Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7.
Once your signup form has been approved and you connect, you'll be able to see who is online on the TAFN communicator server, and navigate the various rooms available. There are rooms for multi-person chat, as well as one-to-one rooms, rooms for events and games, and even some rooms with high quality stereo sound, where you may play, hear and share music and audio.
This might all sound like rocket science... but we can assure you that setting it up is easy.
The TAFN server is completely private and fully accessible, we aim to make it a fantastic experience for all. New guests are guaranteed to receive first class support and a warm friendly welcome.
Listen to some TAFN members saying hello
Entertainment-wise there is a lot happening on TAFN Communicator , for example:
- Live player games including Quizzes, Crosswords and "Chain Reaction", a team word game
- Audio Plays, Documentaries, Drama, Comedy and an Archers fans event.
- Music galore, including themed events from the UK, Australia and the Netherlands, weekly DJ shows, and more. Server users can stream MP3 tracks to eachother in realtime.
- A Sports Bar, where people can talk about their favourite sports, teams and players.
- Interviews with individuals of all ages and backgrounds from across the TAFN network.
- SNIPPETS - a special news & magazine clippings event.
- A growing number of events live from Australia which are usually simultaneous with their night time and our morning.
- Online Microsoft-accredited Computer Skills training for blind & V I people, including with the opportunity to become a home based trainer.
There is at least one scheduled event on the TAFN server every day, and they are all run by volunteers.
Free no obligation trial!
New guests wishing to try our server can sign up for a FREE ONE MONTH TRIAL guest account! No obligations... come and meet our friendly community and give it a try! Subscribed Membership starts from just 12 pounds per year, and has a range of other benefits in addition to the voice conferencing access.
- Step 1) Check if you meet the system requirements (PC running Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7, with microphone, and internet connection)
- Step 2) Sign up for a trial guest account via this link. Sign up
- Step 3) Once your application is approved via email, click on the authorisation link in the email then log in to our secure server via the web link provided. Sign in
- Step 4) Follow the link to download the VIP Communicator Client & install it.
- Step 5) When signed in, in your web browser are links to various chat rooms and a locator frame showing who is currently online on the TAFN Server.
- Step 6) Explore around! Use the "upcoming events" link to find out what scheduled events* are up and coming. Use the "locator frame" to see who is currently online. Use any room name link e g The Lounge to enter that rooml.
- Step 7) Apart from allowing you to speak by simply pressing the left CTRL key, Communicator also announces room names, people entering and exiting rooms, and text messaging between server users automatically via text to speech.
New visitors wishing to try TAFN - Sign up
Download the latest VIP Communicator Client
About the program
*Key facts about TAFN Communicator:-
- VIP Communicator is EASY TO SET UP and install online. Once signed up & approved you could be downloading it then meeting friendly people online within a day!
- We are the only organisation in Europe to be implementing this programme.
- The TAFN server is Private and online 24 hours a day. It offers high quality live talk (including for dialup connections) over the internet using a computer with soundcard and microphone or headset.
- We have TECH SUPPORT volunteers on standby and our cordial welcome awaits.
- The programme was developed by Barry Jennings (B1) of vipconduit.com and is fully accessible to screen reader users. Once you have installed it and entered a room simply press the left CTRL key to talk!
- TAFN Communicator has STEREO capability and a number of our online events (including DJ shows, plays & audio described films) are now in lovely Stereo!.
- TAFN is a growing & dynamic online UK-based voice community of VIP's using assistive technology to enable fun, friendship and support online. It's run entirely by volunteers and dependent on donations of money, time and talent!, and we actively encourage and promote independence. Our members - who are ever growing in number - look forward to meeting new guests & you're sure to be made welcome.
Sign up for a TAFN Communicator Guest Account (via this join form with terms and conditions)
For further enquiries please contact us by email