What Does TTYS Mean?
TTYs is the plural form of TTY, which stands for teletypewriter. Another commonly used word is "Teletype Telephone" or "Teletype Phone." It is a data terminal that converts incoming phone calls and voice responses into text. This device assists the hearing impaired in using the telephone.
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American With Disabilities Act (ADA)
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The American With Disabilities Act was intended as civil rights legislation for the disabled. The law was written to ensure "equality of access," and that includes everything from wheelchair ramp entry into public buildings to the viability and availability of telephone communications for the hearing impaired. The TTY phone was developed to ensure this equality in communication.
Telecommunications Act of 1996
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The ADA serves as a basis for equal opportunity and access for the disabled. In 1996, congressional legislation added new provisions to federal statue. Section 225 of the legislation provided greater access to TTY users, mandating that phone makers and service providers provide more accessibility. This allowed TTY phones to become much easier to use.
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VCO an HCO
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Disabilities are always slightly different from person to person, so making communication more accessible requires a variety of approaches. Voice carry over (VCO) allows you to use your voice on the telephone and read the other person's response. Hearing carry over (HCO) allows the voice impaired to listen and type out responses.
Cell Phones and TTYs
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The Telecommunications Act of 1996 also recognized the need to have TTY technology remain in step with cellphones. The voice and hearing impaired have often had trouble connecting the TTY devices to cellphones. The law mandates that cellphones universally be compatible with TTY devices, so when people with hearing or voice impairments wish to use a cellphone, the TTY device can be hooked up through the cellphone's microphone outlet.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit black cell phone image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
