Facts About TTY
TTY is the acronym for TeleTYpewriter, a device used with a standard telephone. Also known as a TDD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) and a Text Telephone, TTY is the most commonly used term. The TTY device allows a person who is hard of hearing, deaf or speech impaired to make and receive telephone calls.
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How it Works
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To operate a TTY, a person will type the conversation--rather than speak it--to another person who has the same device. The TTY device has a keyboard with 20 to 30 characters, a display screen and a modem. When letters are typed on the keyboard, an electronic signal is transmitted over the phone line. The content appears on the receiver's TTY text display screen.
Features
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A flashing light allows the TTY user to know when a phone call is coming in. More recently, a vibrating wristband--worn like a watch--has been used. Some of the newer TTY devices are equipped with an answering machine and are computer compatible. (References 1 and 2)
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Function
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The TTY is used by 4 million people throughout the United States and provides the same life-saving capacities and conveniences of the telephone. It allows the user to make emergency calls to the police and fire department, do banking and make both personal and work calls. (Reference 2)
Significance
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If a TTY user is sending a call to a person that does not have a TTY device, there is a service known as the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS), that can relay the call. A trained relay agent will accept the typed message from the TTY sender and relay it verbally.
Considerations
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Likewise, if a person without a TTY device is sending a call to a TTY user, the TRS relay agent will verbally receive the message, then relay the message by typing it for the TTY user receiving the call.
Advantages
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Use of the TTY allows several million users to no longer be isolated from people and services. The TTY device can connect to any phone at any time and no longer limits contact to only others who also have a TTY. This special service is indicated by either a "TTY" or "V/TTY" at the end of a phone number. (Reference 1)
Disadvantages
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The user of a TTY must know how to type accurately. Additionally, over a half million people use ASL (American Sign Language) and there is no written counterpart for TTY use--its grammatical system differs from Standard English. (Reference 2)
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References
- Photo Credit telephone image by Marek Kosmal from Fotolia.com
