Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Visual-Based
Telecommunications
C. Marsters (Deaf orthodontist and air-
line pilot), Paul Taylor (Deaf engineer),
and Andrew Saks (Deaf mechanical engi-
neer and grandson of Saks Fifth Avenue
founder). Weitbrecht and Marsters devel-
oped the PHONETYPE acoustic coupler
(modem) and successfully sent the first
transmission via long distance back in
1964. Taylor is said to have combined
retired Western Union teletypewriters
and the acoustic couplers in the late 1960s
to create the first TTY and is considered
the Father of the Relay Service.
A TTY can permit two callers, each
with his or her own TTY device to com-
municate directly with one another as if
In this chapter, we view visual-based tele-
communications as those technologies
that involve text or video information,
and may or may not also provide audio
information. The first technology that
comes to mind is the teletypewriter (TTY;
Figure 10-2), which is a text-based tele-
phone also sometimes called a Telecom-
munication Device for the Deaf (TDD).
Several individuals are credited for bring-
ing the TTY to its current state including
Robert Weitbrecht (Deaf engineer), James
Figure 10-2.
Example teletypewriter (ttY). Photo credit: Samuel r.
atcherson, PhD.
