Many people who suffer from hearing impairments find it difficult or even impossible to tele-communicate. Even though there have been many advancements to help people with various disabilities communicate easier, little time has been spent on those with hearing problems . In a time when telecommunicating is all the rage, shouldn't those who are hard of hearing also get a chance to enjoy modern communication like the rest of us?
Communication plays an important role in our lives, and we are constantly looking for new and inspired solutions to communication problems. But exactly how much of these solutions benefit the hard of hearing?
But there is hope yet. With the new and improved TDD, or tele-communications device for the deaf, more hard of hearing people are now able to communicate telephonically. The TDD is an electronic device that transmits messages to a recipient through a phone line. This device is also known as a telephone typewriter, or a tele-typewriter. The size of a small laptop, this device features the standard QWERTY keyboard used in all typewriters, and boasts an LED or LCD screen that displays the typed messages. Earlier designs of the TDD had the text printed on a small spool of paper, much like how cash registers print receipts.
TDD users have also developed their own code that makes conversing easier. Since TDD users are not able to determine when the person they are speaking to has finished talking, they use the term 'GA', which means 'go ahead'.
There are various other common abbreviations also used. 'CA' refers to the Communications Assistant, or the person who relays the messages for both parties. 'SK' means 'stop keying', while 'SKSK' means 'hanging up'. Furthermore, 'SK' also means 'goodbye' or 'about to hang up’; while 'SKSK' refers to an immediate hang up. 'Q', 'QQ', or 'QM' means question mark, while 'XXXX' is used to indicate typing errors instead of backspacing. A good thing to note is that TDD only uses capital letters.
TDD users will find another advantage out of this device. They will be able to contact the Telecommunications Relay Service, which is a group of operators that help relay message in phone conversations for the hard of hearing. They use captioned phone technology, which helps them with voice recognition properties.
There are other technologies, however, that help the hearing impaired . These include SMS (short message service) on mobile phones, online chatting and instant messaging.
