Phones without typing?

[Lau2046]

My father just got off the phone with AT&T over my Blackberry which stopped working today. I can't hear people over the phone and naturally we got two different people from two calls - one a clear speaking woman and another, a thick accented Hispanic whom my father couldn't understand without constant repeating. I couldn't have done this without his help, but at some point, I'll be on my own, completely un-tech and clueless about troubleshooting a cell phone much less being able to deal with people. I know about TTY's but are there phones where you get the person on the other end captioned, and you can talk back to them instead of typing? There's not enough juice in my wrists with carpel tunnel for TTY so I'm curious if technology these days can give you the option to talk on your end and receive their replies typed so you can follow the conversation.

Sorry if this is a really basic question but I know nothing about technology for the hearing impaired. I was in my 20's before I got my first deaf alarm, and as I live with my family - I haven't needed anything else other than help with the phone. Thanks.

 

[Angel1989]

I have a Cap-Tel phone that does what you are looking for. In my state it was totally free. It does have to run thru the internet however, but there may be other options. It really is a great phone, Good Luck!!!

 

[Lau2046]

Thank you. After I posted I realized I put this in the wrong place. Does it surprise anyone that I'd have problems using technology? I'll have to look into it. If anyone has links, I'd appreciate any info. I'm really going to need to get a phone for the hearing impaired at some point. Just wish I was more up to date about what's out there now. Thank you again.

 

[Anij]

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry Bold )

What you're looking for is called VCO - voice carry over and is available on traditional phone relay. I have an Ultratec Uniphone which is great because it's a single phone that is a normal volume phone, amplified phone , tty, HCO (hearing type & listen) and VCO (hoh/deaf read & talk).

Hope that helps

 

[Lau2046]

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry Bold )

What you're looking for is called VCO - voice carry over and is available on traditional phone relay. I have an Ultratec Uniphone which is great because it's a single phone that is a normal volume phone, amplified phone , tty, HCO (hearing type & listen) and VCO (hoh/deaf read & talk).

Hope that helps

Thank you, it does. I really appreciate the replies. I'm going to look into getting one - after my $6,150.00 hearing aids bill, but at least now I know what it's called....

 

[Anij]

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry Bold )

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry Bold )

What you're looking for is called VCO - voice carry over and is available on traditional phone relay. I have an Ultratec Uniphone which is great because it's a single phone that is a normal volume phone, amplified phone , tty, HCO (hearing type & listen) and VCO (hoh/deaf read & talk).

Hope that helps

Thank you, it does. I really appreciate the replies. I'm going to look into getting one - after my $6,150.00 hearing aids bill, but at least now I know what it's called....

You should be able to get one through your phone company at a reduced rate with proof of hearing loss /medical note from your Audie or Dr.

 

[Lau2046]

That shouldn't be tough providing the audi proof - I don't earn much but I've always thought I earn "too much" for any financial assistance which is a large part of why I've never bothered to get a phone like this before. Thank you for the information. Both of you have really been helpful....Happy 4th!

 

[Reba]

FAQ's about getting free equipment in Massachusetts:

http://www.massresources.org/massrelay-massedp.html#free

http://www.mass.gov/eopss/agencies/massedp/

 

[LovingLife]

Captel web address: CapTel - Captioned Telephone | Phone Captions, Text Telephones, Hearing Loss, Hard of Hearing, Deaf

VCO:
http://mn.gov/commerce/images/Voice-Carry-Over-Brochure.pdf

 

[Anij]

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry Bold )

For what it's worth I've had my ultratec uniphone for almost 17years now (still works great) and I know many many poeple who also have them and have had then just as long.

Well worth the money.

 

[Lau2046]

You people rock!

 

[whatdidyousay!]

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry Bold )

What you're looking for is called VCO - voice carry over and is available on traditional phone relay. I have an Ultratec Uniphone which is great because it's a single phone that is a normal volume phone, amplified phone , tty, HCO (hearing type & listen) and VCO (hoh/deaf read & talk).

Hope that helps

Is there a third person that listen to your call and type what the other person is saying? I would not like some stranger listening to all my phone calls

 

[Anij]

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry Bold )

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry Bold )

What you're looking for is called VCO - voice carry over and is available on traditional phone relay. I have an Ultratec Uniphone which is great because it's a single phone that is a normal volume phone, amplified phone , tty, HCO (hearing type & listen) and VCO (hoh/deaf read & talk).

Hope that helps

Is there a third person that listen to your call and type what the other person is saying? I would not like some stranger listening to all my phone calls

For all relay services this is the case (TTY, VCO, HCO, VRS ets) ... The only way to avoid having a third party in on the conversation would be to directly text message a person or to have everyone buy a TTY themselves.

 

[Reba]

That shouldn't be tough providing the audi proof - I don't earn much but I've always thought I earn "too much" for any financial assistance which is a large part of why I've never bothered to get a phone like this before. Thank you for the information. Both of you have really been helpful....Happy 4th!

The cut off amount for free equipment is $50,000 but even that's not without exceptions, so it's still possible to get free equipment. Also, even if you pay, it's only a percentage, not the whole amount, and you can have it spread over 12 monthly payments.

 

[Anij]

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry Bold )

I know it used to be that with a dr sertificate you got TTYs etc "at cost" from registered retailers - typically the local phone company or state/provincal disabilty services program.

 

[whatdidyousay!]

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry Bold )



For all relay services this is the case (TTY, VCO, HCO, VRS ets) ... The only way to avoid having a third party in on the conversation would be to directly text message a person or to have everyone buy a TTY themselves.

There is voice recognition for computers, a doctor I when to had this, he just talk and it was typed out . I do not see why this can't be used for phones too.

 

[tigersharkdude]

^google voice.......all android phones that are Android 2.2(froyo) and up, have voice to text capabilities in the Text Messaging app.

EDIT: NVM....this wont work for making a call...I shouldve read the entire thread

 

[Anij]

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry Bold )

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry Bold )



For all relay services this is the case (TTY, VCO, HCO, VRS ets) ... The only way to avoid having a third party in on the conversation would be to directly text message a person or to have everyone buy a TTY themselves.

There is voice recognition for computers, a doctor I when to had this, he just talk and it was typed out . I do not see why this can't be used for phones too.

The voice recognition is done where a program (Dragon Naturally Speaking) is trained to recognize a single voice. Doctors can train the software to type for them with about 80-90% accuracy ... They watch the screen and make sure that what they say is what is typed and manually correct errors.

Voice recognition is not at the point yet were it is able to do relay calls or replace CART etc.

 

[Anij]

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry Bold )

A group of researchers at Georgia Tech have created a new piece of software called BrailleTouch that allows users to type on a smartphone without looking at the screen.
Early studies with visually impaired participants proficient in Braille typing have demonstrated that users can input at least six times the number of words per minute when compared to other research prototypes for eyes-free texting on a touch screen.

What does this have to do with relay?

(P.S. I don't reallt look at my blackberry keyboard to type anyway ... I touch type the way I do on any standard keyboard. )

 

[Jane B.]

Thank you. After I posted I realized I put this in the wrong place. Does it surprise anyone that I'd have problems using technology? I'll have to look into it. If anyone has links, I'd appreciate any info. I'm really going to need to get a phone for the hearing impaired at some point. Just wish I was more up to date about what's out there now. Thank you again.

If you happen to be in Illinois, Google itac phone illinois and the first thing that comes up has links to different parts of this state site. What I am sure is of interest is that there are no age or income restrictions to qualify for the programs. If getting equipment through them they have selection sites scattered all over the state. Unfortunately the cell phone service providers do not pay into the program so all the equipment is for landlines. I got my first TTY through them back when the program first started and have been very satisfied with them. They do offer quality equipment. I am under the impression that all states have some kind of program with requirements, restrictions varying from state to state.

Sites you may want to visit about captioning for both landlines and cell phones include:

Sprint CapTel | Welcome
Hamilton CapTel

The Wireless CapTel by Sprint app only requires a phone using the Android OS at 2.2 or higher and activated where you get 3G or better service. I don’t make many cell phone calls but have successfully used the “Wireless CapTel by Sprint” app on a Droid 2 that is activated with Page Plus (they are a MVNO that uses Verizon towers).