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

How to use

Tests showed that most people learned how to use them quickly.

You connect the textphone

With an acoustic type you need an ordinary phone. You fit its handset on to the textphone, press one or two keys to dial and then dial out on the telephone. Direct types plug into an ordinary telephone socket and then you use the keys on the textphone to dial. How many keys you have to press depends on the model.
All textphones plug into the mains. Most also have disposable or rechargeable batteries too.

Having a conversation

Text or a signal light on the textphone shows when you’ve got through. You type whatever you want to say. What you have typed and the replies appear on the screen.

On most textphones you can use a combination of text and speech. For example if the other person can hear, you can speak to them but receive their replies in text - see section on Hearing and Voice Carry Over. Calls between a telephone and a textphone can be made through Typetalk - an operator reads out typed messages and types out spoken replies. Some textphones can be used as an ordinary telephone too.

 

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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