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From: rbarth@tumtum.cs.umd.edu (Dick Barth)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: TDD bulletin boards?
Message-ID: <15120@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 24 Oct 90 03:28:07 GMT
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Reply-To: rbarth@tumtum.cs.umd.edu (Dick Barth)
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Index Number: 11243

Jack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Jack O'keeffe) writes:

   To: rbarth@tumtum.cs.umd.edu (Dick Barth)

    DB>  There's a strong emotional pull toward continued use
    DB>  of the things for some people. I agree completely that if
    DB>  every TDD were replaced tomorrow by a computer, the world
    DB>  would be better off. But it's not going to happen tomorrow,
    DB>  nor any time soon, I suspect.

   Dick, as a reformed ex-user of an ASR33 TTY I agree with what you
   say.  But I never formed an emotional attachment to the TTY or to
   the TDD.  I think there is a new force in operation that will make
   the Baudot TDD disappear somewhat sooner than you anticipate. That
   is the advent of more statewide relays, and the ADA mandate for a
   nationwide relay by July 26, 1993.

I'm not saying that TTY is an emotional thing to everybody who uses it. There
are a lot of "modern" TTY users who much prefer to type on a computer, and
who use a TTY only because that's the only thing their friends can 
communicate with.

On the other hand, I've seen enough references to the "Deaf Communications
Network" and how it was developed by a deaf man for the deaf people to use
and ... and ... and ...    that it's clear to me that *some* people
regard the TTY as more than a hunk of technology. It's part of a culture.
And *they're* gonna be the last to turn in their Baudot boxes.

   Our Pennsylvania relay, operated by AT&T, went online just last
   month.  With it, only the non-hearing person needs a TDD display.
   And anyone who is oral can use the VCO feature and avoid all that
   keying.  This means that there will be a shrinking market for the
   traditional TDD, and possibly a developing market for a display
   only TDD (sans keyboard).

Not living in Pennsylvania I've had no experience with the Penna. relay 
system.  Are you saying that it accepts ASCII calls as well as TTY?  If
not, I don't see the market for TDDs disappearing.  The deaf person is
going to need one to receive Baudot from the relay, even if he can speak.

   With a smaller market, the price of TDDs will escalate while the
   price of low-end PCs will continue to decline.  As you say, there
   are a lot of TDDs out there.  But with the relays, you don't need
   one to call a deaf person.  And those old 33TTYs managed to fade
   away pretty quickly once something better came along.

You're right - the price of a low-end PC is already at or below the price
of some high-end TDDs, so there's no economic benefit in buying an ASCII-
capable TDD if you only need ASCII.  One of these years Baudot and the 
Weitbrecht modem will be museum pieces, looked at as a part of history.
The only question is when.