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A guide to buying a textphone, 2001 (view report contents)

Alternatives

Fax

Fax machines are preferred by some people because you have more time to read messages and think about what you want to say - you may feel under pressure to type at speed when you are connected to a phone line. You can write rather than type messages and there’s always a printed record. They can be cheaper because the fax is sent only when you have written your message.

Portable text pagers

Messages are dictated to an operator or keyed in on a mobile phone. Pagers vibrate or ring when they receive a message. They are relatively expensive to use, and they can only receive messages. The Textel 101 (£245) is not a textphone but is used to send text directly to pagers and SMS mobile phones. It has a full size keyboard – details from TSL Products.

Using a computer as a textphone

You may be able to call a textphone from your computer. You need to use a terminal emulation program (the one used by Windows is called Hyperterminal) and you will need to alter the settings of the computer’s modem. This may not be easy, and newer modems may not be capable of the slower speeds used by Textphones. The textphone you are calling has to be switched to its CCITT setting. You may be able to contact Typetalk using your computer even if you can’t connect to an individual textphone. Typetalk have helpful free leaflets which explain how to set about using your computer in this way.

E-mail, messaging and chatrooms

You need a computer with a modem and the necessary internet software.

Text can be displayed in different sizes with most programs and can be printed if your computer has a printer. E-mail does not work like a conversation - you can only exchange separate messages.

Instant messaging works in real time - your conversation is live just as it is with a textphone.

Chatrooms are places where you can have conversations through the internet. These can be public (anyone can join in) or private (only people you choose can join in).

 

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Report contents

What are textphones?
How to use
Some main features explained
The display
Printing
Accessories
Deafblind people
Buying Guide
Mobiles
Alternatives
Typetalk
How to get a textphone
Professional advice
Helpful organisations
Suppliers
Acknowledgements