Communication Devices
The simplest form of communication device is a magnetic board with raised metal letters (as used on notice boards); this has the advantage of simplicity but it is very slow. A faster device is one where a keyboard is connected to a single-cell braille display; the disadvantages are that the deafblind person must be able to read braille, and the cost of the device. There are a number of more sophisticated electronic devices which can be used over the telephone via a modem (a device which converts the digital signals into a form suitable for transmission along a telephone line). Deafblind persons can use most of the paperless braille devices, but these devices are very expensive.
C. Lagarde
Schotenhof 4, 4841RN Prinsenbeek, Netherlands.
Tel: +31 76 542 0463
Fax: +31 76 542 0463
Email: clagarde@xs4all.nl
Web: www.lagardecommunication.com
Screen Braille Communicator
This is a portable unit about the size of a text telephone. It has a QWERTY keyboard and LCD display on one side, and on the other (where a text phone would have its rubber cups) is a braille keyboard and a display. The braille display can be 1 or 8 cells of 6-dot braille. What the braille user inputs is seen on the LCD display, and what the typist inputs is beld in a buffer and can be scrolled through by the deafblind user. The braille is grade 1 with no group contractions (OU, ING, AND, etc are not available). When the deafblind person has finished reading what is in the buffer an LED lights up. The Screen Braille Communicator is designed for face-to-face communication, so the buffer holding the text is only 512 characters long, but this can be expanded up to 1 or 2k. It is powered by a rechargeable battery.
Weight: 0.9kg
Last updated: 30/05/2008
Freedom Scientific Inc
11800 31st Court North, St Petersburg,
Florida 33716, USA.
Tel: +1 727 803 8000; 800 444 4443 (USA and Canada only)
Fax: +1 727 803 8001
Email: info@freedomscientific.com
Web: www.freedomscientific.com
FSTTY
Now deaf-blind users can get more functionality when making TTY and TTD relay calls by using Freedom Scientific's FSTTY for PAC Mate™. With FSTTY, users can: Copy and paste text from PAC Mate files into FSTTY and quickly send it to the other party during a TTY call; Copy and paste from Contacts; Copy and paste frequently-used information and phrases during phone calls; Quickly copy text from entire phone conversations or portions of calls into other PAC Mate files; Keep safe and accurate records of TTY conversations. Launching FSTTY opens a temporary file to which all session activity is recorded. This file can be saved at any time during the session as a permanent file on your PAC Mate. FSTTY can be used with a PAC Mate BX or QX with a 20-cell or 40-cell braille display.
Price: $1,200.00 (FSTTY Package includes TTY modem and power supply, FSTTY application CD, serial cable, Socket Communications serial I/O CompactFlash® Adapter, telephone cable, and leather carry case)
Price: $4,995.00 (when combined with a PAC Mate BX or QX with a 20-cell braille display)
Price: $6,795.00 (when combined with a PAC Mate BX or QX with a 40-cell braille display)
Last updated: 30/05/2008
FaceToFace
FaceToFace™ teams up with Bluetooth™ connectivity and the PAC Mate™ accessible Pocket PC to create a portable way for deaf-blind individuals to engage in real time conversations with others. FaceToFace works much like a TTY call without a phone line. The two parties communicate wirelessly at up to 30 feet apart – virtually anywhere in the same room. The deaf-blind party uses the PAC Mate’s QWERTY or Perkins-style keyboard to write messages, and the sighted party types on an HP iPAQ Pocket PC. If the user makes a typing error, they backspace and retype. The entire conversation displays on both devices – visually on the iPAQ and in braille on the PAC Mate. Each party is individually identified, so it’s easy to keep contextual track of conversations.
Conversations can be saved to text files, and text can be pasted right into a conversation for increased speed and accuracy. FaceToFace works with other PAC Mate users, as well. For those times when the user doesn't need a portable solution, there’s a copy of the program that runs on their Bluetooth enabled desktop or laptop PC. FaceToFace includes the application, an iPAQ with thumb keyboard, and a
CompactFlash™ Bluetooth card. It can be run on a PAC Mate BX or QX accessible Pocket PC, available with either a 20-cell or 40-cell refreshable braille display (not included).
Price: $1,400.00 (Includes FaceToFace application, HP iPAQ with thumb keyboard, and CompactFlash™ Bluetooth card.)
Last updated: 30/05/2008
Krown Manufacturing, Inc.
3408 Indale Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76116, United States of America.
Tel: +1 817 738 2485
Fax: +1 817 738 1970
Email: info@krownmfg.com
Web: www.krownmfg.com
Krown 100
The unit is compact, lightweight, portable and easy to use. The display has an 80 character, 2-line display. This device comes with Fast Type for a "real-time" conversation. Fast Type speed goes to 110 baud for a professional typist or automatically go back down to 45.5 baud (American standard). Other features includes: Caller ID; Auto answer; Telephone directory; One step touch dialling (911, Emergency, Ambulance, Fire, Police); 24-column printer with three print sizes; Date/Time Clock Calendar; On/Off printer switch; Interrupt; Pulse/Tone dial; Acoustic cups to fit round and square handsets; 32K memory; Programmable electronic voice; Heavy duty rechargeable battery.
Ref: K-K100
Price: $649.00 (standard model)
Last updated: 30/05/2008
Krown 200
The unit is compact, lightweight, portable and easy to use. The display has an graphic 280 x 80 pixels, 2-line or 1-line. User can choose from 8 different font sizes and 8 different brightness for the right display that works best with their vision. This device comes with Fast Type for a "real-time" conversation. Fast Type speed goes to 110 baud for a professional typist or automatically go back down to 45.5 baud (American standard). Other features include: Auto answer; One step touch dialling (911); 24-column printer with three print sizes; Date/Time Clock Calendar; On/Off Printer Switch; Interrupt; Pulse/Tone Dial; Acoustic cups to fit round and square handsets; Call alert; Programmable electronic voice; Heavy duty rechargeable battery.
Ref: K-K200
Price: $589.00 (standard model)
Last updated: 30/05/2008
Krown VTouch TTY "Braillephone"
To aid the Deaf-Blind in having a conversation over the telephone. This device allows the user to communicate with a Relay Operator, another TTY, or even a braille-TTY user in the United States and all over the world. The conversation is shown on the braille display from the VTouch Braille Terminal. Large conversation memory. Up to 32,768 characters and 4 programmable buffers. It's ideal for greeting messages, memos or to save time on a long distance call.
Directly connects to the telephone line or acoustically couples to the telephone handset.
Automatic Answering machine records unlimited messages up to 30,000 characters total.
Remote message retrieval with password protection.
Wireless tactile pager for incoming call notification.
Tactile Signaler for outgoing call progress.
Stores up to 9 speed dial numbers. Heavy duty rechargeable, replaceable battery pack. Lasts for six hours of continuous use with a low battery indicator.
Soft pack carrying case included. Face to face communication with second keyboard. Lightweight and easily portable.
Ref: K-VTTTY
Price: $5,995.00
Last updated: 30/05/2008
Omnitor AB
Box 92054, SE-120 06 Stockholm, Sweden.
Tel: +46 8 589 000 50
Text Tel: +46 8 5560 0205
Fax: +46 8 589 000 51
Email: info@omnitor.se
Web: www.omnitor.se
TextLink 9100
The TextLink 9100 is a new textphone which enables the user to communicate with other people who have textphones. The TextLink 9100 has an auto answer feature enabling other textphone users to leave a message when the user is away. The TextLink 9100 is lightweight which enables easy transport for travelling. It plugs directly into any standard telephone socket and can also be connected to a thermal printer allowing text conversations to be printed. The TextLink 9100 supports the V.18 standards for International textphone conversations.
Last updated: 30/05/2008
Sarabec Ltd
15 High Force Road, Middlesborough TS2 1RH, UK.
Tel: +44 1642 247789
Fax: +44 1642 230827
Email: mail@sarabec.co.uk
Web: www.sarabec.com
PhonePlus
The Phoneplus is used to increase the volume of the caller’s voice through the users handset with the addition of boosting high or low tones if required. The Phoneplus is a battery operated device that connects between the base unit and handset of most corded handset telephones. It can be left connected when no volume or tone boosting is needed without affecting the performance of your telephone. The phoneplus automatically switches “on” when the handset is lifted, and switches “off” when the handset is replaced.
Ref: 140-051
Price: £23.50; £27.61
Last updated: 02/06/2008
Portable Telephone Amplifier
The amplifier can boost incoming speech by at least twelve times and is small enough to be attached to most telephone handsets with the adjustable rubber strap.
As well as amplifying the incoming speech the Portable Telephone Amplifier also produces a loop signal which makes it suitable for use by people who wish to use their hearing aid switched to the “T” setting. The Portable Telephone Amplifier has an adjustable strap which fits over the telephone receiver and holds the amplifier in place over the earpiece. It can be left in place on the handset provided that it does not prevent the handset from fully disconnecting the call. Note: the Portable Telephone Amplifier is not suitable for use with mobile telephones and many cordless (portable) telephones.
Ref: 140-010
Price: £11.50; £13.51
Last updated: 02/06/2008
Ultratec, Inc
450 Science Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53711, USA.
Tel:/TTY: +1 608 238 5400; 800 482 2424 (USA and Canada only)
Fax: +1 608 238 3008
Email: service@ultratec.com
Web: www.ultratec.com; www.captionedtelephone.com
CapTel
Ideal for people with some degree of hearing loss, the Captioned Telephone (CapTel™) works like any other telephone with one important addition. It displays every word the caller says throughout the conversation. CapTel users can listen to the caller, and can also read the written captions in the CapTel's bright display window. CapTel is currently only available in states that offer the CapTel Captioning Service as part of their Relay Service.
Last updated: 02/06/2008