The Use of a Pocket Computer as an Aid for the Deaf

The teletypewriter is an extremely valuable communication aid for deaf persons. It does, nevertheless, have several practical disadvantages. These include the high initial purchase cost and subsequent maintenance costs including telephone charges. Teletypewriters also have a low rate of communication, are relatively inflexible in their mode of operation, and are of limited portability. A low-cost, mass-produced pocket computer has been programmed to resemble a teletypewriter, but with the additional advantages of both memory and logic. The system is not only more powerful and more convenient to use than a conventional teletypewriter (especially the feature of being pocket-sized), but it is also less expensive.