Technology for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
In addition to hearing products—the cochlear implants and hearing aids, companies offer other technological devices to be used to help a deaf individual during their lifetime. Listed below are some, but not limited to, of the most common devices. With technology growing each and every day, products provided for the deaf continues to grow as well.
- Closed Captioning
Closed captionings play a huge role in a Deaf individual’s life. Closed captionings are provided in every TV being made now and these days and is crucial because it allows the deaf to enjoy the same entertainment a hearing person does. As deaf individuals, they’re able to watch the media with almost exact simultaneous captioning for them to follow.
President Obama just signed a law in 2010 stating that all videos and music on the internet must be captioned. All Deaf individuals are very thrilled about this.
President Obama just signed a law in 2010 stating that all videos and music on the internet must be captioned. All Deaf individuals are very thrilled about this.
- Captioned Telephones
CapTel i800 Phone has a screen in which text appears on from the person you’re talking to. The captioning appears easy-to-read and is displayed almost simultaneously with the spoken word, allowing the Deaf to understand by hearing and/or reading it.
- Video Phones
Several companies, especially SorensonVRS and Purple VRS, provides free video phones to deaf and hard of hearing individuals who use sign language. This device is hooked up to the television and can be used to make free nationwide phone calls. This is similar to a webcam considering it films you signing. The SorensonVRS provides interpreting services to help with phone calls. These video phones are used for deaf to deaf phone calls, as well as deaf to hearing phone calls. The interpreters working within the relay system provided are to interpret for both the hearing and deaf individual for their phone calls.
- Alarm Clocks
Sonic Boom alarm clocks consists a powerful bed shaker along with a built in outlet to plug a lamp into for flashing lights. This can be used for any Deaf/Hard of Hearing individual considering the alarm clock also has a volume adjuster to be able to hear the alarm go off without a listening device.
- Alarm/Detector Systems
There are a handful of systems that can be installed in homes, rooms, dorms, etc. for deaf individuals. These systems consist of smoke detectors, flashing doorbells, sound monitors, and alarm systems for various things around the house: baby crying, sounds, etc. There is even an all in one alarm clock that contains various alert systems. Some of these dectectors also have strobe lighting.
- Cell Phones, SMS texting, Instant Messaging, Internet, etc.
The most common device for Deaf and Hard of Hearing entities benefit from cell phones and text forms over the computer—as well as those in the hearing world. Emails, instant messaging on the computers converted to texting and SMS messaging on cell phones has made a difference in everyone’s world, especially the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Communication is a lot better and efficient compared to the past. This is a wonderful way of communication with the hearing AND deaf world.
Source of Images:
Alarm Clock. [Digital Image]. (2007). Retrieved December 10, 2010 from
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001712.php
Alert Detectors. [Digital Image]. (2006). Retrieved December 10, 2010 from
http://www.silentcall.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=197&osCsid=90876d60801814e35e94b3dbc7e
CapTell i800. [Digital Image]. (2010). Retrieved December 10, 2010 from
http://hlaa-advocacy.blogspot.com/2010_03_01_archive.html
Closed Caption Logo. [Digital Image]. (2010). Retrieved December 10, 2010 from
http://www.ezdigitaltv.com/Closed_Captioning.html
Messaging. [Digital Image]. (2009). Retrieved December 10, 2010 from
http://www.softwareantivirusfirewall.info/?cat=nzqzkpiw&paged=6
Using the Video Phone. [Digital Image] (2009). Retrieved December 10, 2010 from
http://maps.thefullwiki.org/Videophone