How does tty work

As electronic technology advanced, so did TTY. The units became smaller, less expensive and more readily available. While TTY units are analog , software and a voice-capable modem with digital signal processing allow computers to talk directly to TTYs [source: Gallaudet University ].

But changing technology has begun to threaten the existence of TTYs. E-mail , text messaging , instant messaging , e-paging and electronic faxing can be done from a computer with Internet access -- and without TTY. Add a Web camera and voice over Internet VoIP technology, and two deaf people can even sign to each other in real time. With the arrival of BlackBerry mobile devices, iPhones and other smartphones , texting and IMing can be done almost anywhere.

Picture phones with video allow signed messages to be recorded and sent, and vibrating phones make it easy for a deaf person to know when a message has arrived. Is there still a place for TTY? Definitely among people who have used it for years and are more comfortable with it than with newer computer and mobile technology.

And an argument can be made for keeping a simple TTY unit at home for emergencies. Like corded landline phones, TTYs rely on the telecommunications grid, rather than electricity, for power. So if electrical power is out in your area, you can still send and receive messages with your TTY unit. Finding a TTY unit is easy. Gallaudet University , which provides higher education for the deaf and hard of hearing, also provides a list of vendors of TTY unit, modem and software manufacturers.

As you type, the message is sent over the phone line, just like your voice would be sent over the phone line if you talked. You can read the other person's response on the TTY's text display. With TRS, a special operator types whatever you say so that the person you are calling can read your words on his or her TTY display. He or she will type back a response, which the TRS operator will read aloud for you to hear over the phone.

Today, physical TTY devices are fairly out-dated. Most people use TTY mode on their cell phones, or communicate through one of these alternative means. For people with speech and hearing impairments, text messaging has become one of the easiest and most effective means of communication. The rise in video calling technology like Facetime, Google Hangouts, and Skype has made it easier for people with speech and hearing impairments to communicate using sign language. Today, people with these disabilities can use video conferencing technology to talk in real-time with their friends and loved ones using sign language that both parties can see.

Video Relay Service is a form of Telecommunications Relay Service that enables persons with hearing disabilities who use American Sign Language to communicate with voice telephone users through video equipment, rather than through typed text. What is TTY mode on a cell phone? TTY mode allows people with hearing and speech impairments to communicate by using text-to-voice or voice-to-text technology. There are also numerous other methods of communication for people with speech and hearing impairments, including text messaging, video calls, and video relay services.

Hayley Milliman is a former teacher turned writer who blogs about education, history, and technology. When she was a teacher, Hayley's students regularly scored in the 99th percentile thanks to her passion for making topics digestible and accessible. Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process.

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