Telephone typewriters (TTY) are a telephone for deaf or hearing impaired persons. It consists of a keyboard and display screen, and is sometimes called a teletypewriter or textphone. TTY allows users to type into their TTY machine, which are then turned into electrical signals that can travel over ordinary telephone lines. When the signals reach their destination (in this case, another TTY) they are converted back into letters which, depending on the TTY model, then appear on a display screen, are printed out on paper, or both. If the other telephone does not have a TTY facility, the National Relay Service can be used to conduct text to voice calls.
The National Relay Service also offers free TTY training to individuals, groups and businesses upon request. For information on TTY training visit the National Relay Service web site (see Related Links on this page) or contact them on:
- Voice: 1800 555 660
- TTY: 1800 555 630
- FAX: 1800 555 690
TTY’s have limitations which include:
- Only one person can 'talk' at a time (no interruptions are possible without causing letter jumbling)
- the optimum typing speed performance is 65 words per minute at best depending on the typist (compares to 240—300 words equivalent per minute in spoken or signed communication)
- requires a comprehensive understanding of the English language to fully communicate with hearing peers (for many Deaf people, English is their second language)
- not being able to fully convey the emotional content of the conversation with it often difficult to gauge whether the speaker on the other end is happy or angry
- requires turn-taking signals such as GA (Go Ahead) which causes delays
- allows interfacing only with TTYs or the NRS.
(Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy 2007; Australian Association of the Deaf 2007)
Workplace solutions and adjustments
Many occupations require people to communicate over a telephone. A telephone typewriter (TTY) can assist people with a hearing impairment to effectively communicate.
References
Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy 2007, Overview of Disability Issues, Australian Government, Canberra, viewed 2 December 2007, <http://www.dcita.gov.au/communications_for_consumers/telephone_services/access_for_people_with_disabilities/overview_of_disability_issues>.
Australian Association of the Deaf 2007, What is Deaf Equivalent to Voice Telephony? Release of AAD Position Paper, The Australian Association of the Deaf Inc., Brisbane, viewed 2 December 2007, <http://www.aad.org.au/info/paper_voctel.php>.