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Text Messaging Device For the Hearing Impaired?
spaceball1 asks: "I was in the army and served in Iraq — one of the side effects being some permanent hearing loss. I now wear hearing aids all of the time, in both ears. Talking on a cell phone has become nearly impossible. I have considered moving to a device more geared towards text messaging, but they are all very expensive and have a lot of the features that I will never use. Are there any devices out there that are geared only towards simple text messaging? The No-Frills-Cell-Phone concept has been largely ignored in the US; does a No-Frills-Text-Messaging device exist?"
Any no-frills cellular phone.
BTW, any decent hearing aid can nicely cooperate with a good cell phone.
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The college that I currently go to is one of about 4 in the United States that has American Sign Language as a major. Since sign is the second language on the campus, this guarantees that deaf students will be more likely to come here. Several of my friends here are deaf, including several teacher. From what I can tell, many of them will use the Sidekicks for communication, and one of the teachers also uses a blackberry. I'm assuming that you can go to the phone company, and they will more than likely have text plans for those who are deaf.
Have you looked into TTY services? Or Relay services?
Personally, I have a Treo 600. I can hear ok with the speakerphone, and I love the keyboard for sending text messages, which I do often. But when I need to call someone and discuss something important, I use an online Relay service like Hamilton Relay (google for it). It's free (domestically, anyway), and it's just like using AIM, basically, except you're on the phone.
I wish more people would STOP using the phone and switch to email or texting. I hate when people call me, and I have to go through the whole routine of "sorry, I'm hearing impaired, can you email me?" It amazes me how so many people don't understand this--even when I put in all my emails "Hearing Impaired--email preferred," I still get calls from people I've emailed.
Otherwise a two-way pager f.ex. Motorola T900 or a Blackberry since it has a full keyboard. But most important is to find a way to get it subsidized as a hearing-impaired communication device.
Pretty much all phones have texting capabilities. Even an old Nokia phone (read: cheap) I have opens up to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard, and with some cell phone plans you get unlimited SMS messages.
So what's the issue here? That it has a camera? Don't use it. That it has polyphonic ring tones? Don't use them. That it has an MP3 player? Don't use it.
The phone I just mentioned above (don't quite remember the model number) has both a camera and ring tones and a bunch of other junk that I never used. I just ignored it. If I wanted to send an SMS, I just flipped it open to its QWERTY keyboard and sent the SMS. Easy as lying.
Watch the Teaser Trailer for "The Lightning Thief" Her
T-Mobile has the Sidekick iD for $99 (with contract and rebate) which isn't too pricey. I've used a sidekick for about 4 years now, pretty much just as a web/email/texting device. It has a great keyboard that you can type at a pretty good pace on. It has an IM client for Aim and Yahoo (I think) as well. http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/Detail.aspx?de vice=ab49893d-e81e-4065-ae87-ee2554ab2688
What Would Paris Hilton Do? Get a T-Mobile Sidekick.
If you're looking into a cellphone, there's always the Blackberry/Treo/Sidekick/Nokia 91xx(i think), and you can find most of those on eBay for cheaper than your provider has them for. However, if you'd be content to just use the nearest WiFi hotspot, there's something called the ZipIt which runs $100, and handles all the standard IM networks. Added bonus: it runs Linux.
"I think an etch-a-sketch with an ethernet port would beat IE7 in web standards compliance."
Some states also mandate that the local telephone carriers subsidize the use of a C-phone (which they also provide), but that is tied to a land line although portable versions are available for retail purchase.
Good luck with your search!
A Slashdot thread without a flawed analogy is like a frozen fishstick without a train conductor. - Odin's Raven
I used to use a Motorola A780. One thing it would do is read (voice) text messages. I thought that would be a great benefit for people with vision loss. I have not seen many phones that will do that.
You may want to check out a new hearing aid from a company called Zounds. My dad just purchased a pair, and loves them. He always complained about your same issue - the feedback problem with speaking on the phone. Good luck.
I went to a Texas School for the Deaf high school football game, and I would say about 70% of the deaf kids had t-mobile sidekicks.
Don't know if the v100 is still available or, for that matter,
if it is compatible with US mobile systems.
A phone specifically designed for texting but pretty well useless for
speech (!).
More realistically look at the Nokia E62 if you can find a decent
connection deal. Better yet, get the E61 (probably have to import from Europe)
this supports WiFi connectivity as well as GSM (and 3G)
and dozens of messaging features.
Andy
Your hearing aid will have a 'loop' mode, whereby it doesn't use the mic, it uses an inductive loop. Here in the UK, places like cinemas and so on have an inductive loop system so you can hear only what they broadcast.
You can purchase an inductive loop 'headset' for any nokia phone. The loop goes round your neck and you can hear the phone just fine, without interference as the phone is dangling on the loop round your neck. They're almost standard issue for deaf people in the UK now.
Alternatively, just buy any GSM phone on whatever contract you like and text away. Cheap contracts designed for texters and non-talkers are plentiful. Sorry if your country is in the analogue age and doesn't offer such modern services as SMS.
Now that I think about it I have my old Sidekick Color in a drawer here. It still works fine, I switched to the Sidekick II because it is tri-band so I could use it when I travel overseas and it is a better voice phone than the Color is. Since you don't need that feature you'd probably be just fine with it. You would just need to make sure that T-Mobile will activate it for you (needs a sim card with a Sidekick account). All yours, free, if you want it and confirm that it will work out for you. It even has 2 chargers (used to keep one in my travel bag) and a belt pouch.
You might try 2-way pagers (like a Motorola T900). They have a full qwerty keyboard (although very small) and service can be reasonable (500 messages for $20). I used these pagers before and liked them.
My mind works like lightning. One brilliant flash and it is gone.
Blackberries work great for this but you may want to look into a headset that can plug into your hearing aid. The Eli DIRX works pretty good for this too. http://www.elihearing.com/UnitedStatesENG/index.ht m
Although I know I should ignore AC's...
We have actually advanced beyond natural selection. We have the power to make ourselves overcome obstacles that would take natural selection eons to do. It's one of the nice things about being able to reason...but you wouldn't understand anything about that
You could pick up a used Sidekick or last-gen Treo or Blackberry pretty cheaply on Ebay- just don't use the phone or email and you've got a great cheap messaging platform. You can even find a brand new Nokia 6822 there for about US$100 - pretty much the smallest package that you'll find with a QWERTY keyboard.
Worst BBC News Stories
Who the hell uses pagers anymore? You can get unlimited SMS from most carriers for $20.
Try the Nokia 8600 series if it's still around. I think the E70 is the current model.
Lets start refering to The War Against Terror by it's initials. . .
"Why not let natural selection take its course instead?"
What makes you think natural selection would spare you?
"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
I have a congenital 50dB hearing deficit in both ears. I lived with crappy analog devices for over 20 years. If you can afford it (and I know they're expensive) go digital.
Up until I bought my latest set of hearing aids I had a lot of difficulty with phones. I was able to get a basic pair of digital In The Canal (ITC) hearing aids last time, and it has made a world of difference. The digital processing makes for much better sound quality and feedback is greatly diminished. The smaller ITC form factor also helps in diminishing feedback.
Now I can use phones (even cell phones) without a problem. I can even wear headphones!
Please explain how natural selection would apply here. I highly doubt that not having a convenient text-messaging device is going to have much of an effect on anyone's chances of survival.
If you go with Nokia and you care more about email than SMS, one other option is to just get the older 6680 (Europe) or 6681/6682 (US) and get EQ3 Email. With the purchase they send you for free a qwerty-like replacement keypad for the phone, which has a performance of about 3xT9 (and that for words that T9 knows - the email app's predictive engine is even better on non-dictionary words). So you end up with a device that has text entry capabilities close to a full qwerty device, but is smaller while having larger keys, and you can find a used one for around $100.
Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. Polar Scope Align for iOS
Because natural selection, unfortunately, seems to favor the stupid.
I've read that many deaf users go with the Sidekick since not only does it have a full keyboard, but you can also get a data only plan from T-Mobile for $20/month. You can also download TTY/relay programs so that you can interact with hearing folks too.
If you get to the point where face-to-face conversations are difficult because you can't hear the other person, the UbiDuo might help. It's a battery-powered device composed of two halves, each with a keyboard and LCD display. It looks a bit like a laptop and uses wireless technology to maintain a connection between the two halves for real-time chat capabilities. Those two halves can be detached so that you and the other person can sit across a table or room and chat with each other. You can also hook up either half to a phone line and use the Ubi4Tel feature to call another UbiDuo and have a real-time conversation.
Set the ringer to vibrate.
I think the cheapest would be a bluetooth cellphone and a bluetooth mini keyboard. The next in line I'd recommend would be Palm OS Treo, Blackberry (better KB than Nokia), Sidekick and then that Nokia Full-KB cellphone.
BTW: The ears are the closest to being repareable with cybernetic enhancements. There are completely deaf people who've had implants with mics and coils attached to their hearing nerves (or so) who can now hear. I saw this on a TV show about 10 years ago, it should be a relatively regular thing now. You might want to look into that subject.
I feel sorry for your hearing loss - especially because it's due to the Iraq invasion, which I personally consider the biggest screw-up of an US Administration since Vietnam. I hope you'll manage well further on.
We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
I have done a lot of work with the hearing impaired, and companies that deal with the hearing impaired so I can speak somewhat intelligently on this.
The Blackberry is really the device of choice these days with the hearing impaired and deaf. They're relatively cheap (especially if you buy an older model), they actually are quite solid and can take a beating and parts (like batteries) are cheap and easy to buy.
Also, if you're registered as disabled and/or hearing impaired you may actually be able to get financial assistance from the government (I'm presuming US, here) under the heading of tools to aid in your disability. Hell, the military might pay for it though you'll still have to worry about service providers yourself.
Hope that helps.
If you are too stupid to understand then go and earn yourself a darwin award by slitting your fucking wrists fucktard.
I married a wonderful Deaf lady who is a professor at a public university with a large Deaf program. While I'm hearing, I interact on a daily basis with a large range of hard of hearing individuals. While your experience is largely different from most hard of hearing individuals, there are many programs and technologies out there for you to take advantage of.
Let me preface this by saying that the services are US based, and YMMV greatly in another country with a less established deaf community.
Relay:
In nearly every state in the Union you can dial 711 and reach a relay center. Relay is a free service whereby a hearing operator will make a call for you and type what the person is saying. You need a piece of specialized equipment called a TTY. Since you are a late deafened adult, you probably have excellent speech skills and would prefer using them to typing out what you would like to say. This is called Speech Carry Over, (SCO) and allows you to talk and have the relay operator type back to you what the person is saying. Google "relay services (yourstatehere)" for more information. If you have a computer or internet enabled device available you can make relay calls over the internet for free in the US in 2 separate ways. Point a java-enabled browser at www.ip-relay.com or AIM the buddy "My IP Relay" to get a Relay Operator right away. Of course, these communications will be entirely text based.
QWERTY Cellphones:
By now you've read many comments about T-mobile, and Sidekicks. These devices are not just for Paris Hilton. Nearly every Deaf/HH person under 40 has one, or wants one. T-mobile in the US has several plans geared towards the Deaf/HH including plans that do not include any voicetime at all. My wife and I use T-mobile MDA's which have full featured PDA functionality in addition to a qwerty keyboard and excellent cameraphone. You request a no frills text only cellphone, to which I would point you to a Nokia 68xx series cellphone. The newest of which is the 6822. These phones will do little more than make phone calls and send text/email. These phones are hard to find in stores, but relatively easy to find on ebay, and easy to unlock if they aren't already, so that you can take them to whatever provider will give you the best deal on a grip of texts (usually t-mobile).
You ask for a no frills text-only cellphone, but I would really encourage you to look at the Sidekick. If you feel that you wouldn't use the camera, and of course the mp3 playback would be pointless, the other features are incredibly useful to a hard of hearing individual. The basic deaf sidekick plan from t-mobile is $30 a month, and includes unlimited internet usage. Which allows you to text and aim away as much as you need. This lets you use aforementioned relay services at the drop of a hat so you can call a business or hearing friend whenever you need to. Of course, everyone can text you on your cellphone, but many people are still only available on boring old landlines, especially businesses.
Video Phones:
As a late deafened adult, you are unlikely to embrace the deaf community and learn sign language. However, if you do, video phones are the wave of the future, and are offered free to deaf/hh people in california, and possibly other states. These phones connect over a high speed internet connection and allow you to call any other person with one. They are used primarily for sign language communication between 2 deaf people with the phones, but they also have a relay function which is a quantum leap above tty based relay. Sorenson is one of the main companies that provides these phones, and if you are interested, check them out at www.sorenson.com.
T-coil/loop:
Almost all hearing aids have a loop/t setting that allows them to filter out all background noise and only receive a locally transmitted sound. Many cellphones have the option to be compatible with this, so if actual voice communication over the phone is still possible for you, consult your audiologist, who will have a r
--why?
Exactly, that is why there are so many fucktarded shitdot sheeple. Simple solution is for all of you shitdot sheeple to earn yourselves a darwin award by running a hot bath and slitting your fucking wrists fucktards.
GO AHEAD FUCKING FLAME AWAY OR WASTE YOUR GODDAMNED MODPOINTS FUCKTARDED SHITDOT SHEEPLE!
http://www.virginmobileusa.com/rates/home.do You can get the switchback for $99 Sign up for min to min $.18/min (which you won't use) Sign up for the 1000 SMS for $9.99/month you get penny txt till you go over then it's $.05/per txt It's pre-pay so no contract. SO you get txting with no voice use for 10 bux a month. And say your non-hearing imparied firends fam need to use the phone for voice you always have that option without having to have a voice plan with include min.
I don't use a Sidekick anymore (I have a T-Mobile Dash now), but it has a great keyboard, awesome AIM client, decent text messaging, email, web, and you can download relay services from the Catalog. The Sidekick has pretty much become the device of choice among the deaf community, probably because it has one of the best keyboards on a mobile device, good non-audio notifications (e.g. unique vibrate/flash patterns for differnet notifications) and a lot of other nice features.
The new Sidekick iD is $99 with a 2-year contract, and you can get a data-only plan for $30/mo. It's the "no-frills" device of the Sidekick lineup (no camera, Bluetooth, or MP3 playback).
Both of my parents and step parents are deaf and they all went crazy over the sidekick when they heard about it. My mom and step dad use it to communicate all the time. It is a huge deal within the deaf community because it is simple enough for really anyone to use and it's very portable with pretty good battery life. My mom and definitely my step dad are not very computer literate people but they use their sidekicks with no problems.
>Talking on a cell phone has become nearly impossible.
.
Which models have you tried? Verizon is very good about offering cell phones for the hearing impaired, and you can try nearly evey phone in their store before purchasing. I lost my hearing 7 years ago to illness (while active duty USAF, no less) and was left profoundly deaf. Left ear is completely gone, right ear works just enough for a high-powered hearing aid (100% deaf medically speaking). I use a digital Phonak, and previously an analog, with my cell phones. I've been using cell phones as my main landline for 6+ years. First a Kyrocera, then a Samsung, and now a Treo 700. Its not always the easiest thing to do, but 90% of the conversation goes fine. Mentally I can fill in the gaps or ask them to repeat if needed.
Keep trying the cell phones. It'll get easier over time. You'll learn how to hold it for the best sound, ect. Make sure you do your homework first too: Hearing Aid compatible phones
Yes... I speak from first-hand experience with all this. I'm really, REALLY deaf.
The sidekick looks to be the best option. Google wireless for the deaf will turn up some retailers who specialize in communications for the deaf. One I saw sells sidekick 3s with a i711 relay software pre installed on the sidekick. Plus, data only on T-mobile is $30/month for unlimited.
BTW, speaking of hearing aids, has anyone ever intergrated bluetooth in a hearing aid? The t-loop connector i saw for a cell phone years ago had a huge loop thing you had to wear around your neck. This addition for hearing aids would be great for the hard of hearing to be able to use a phone more conveinetly. Also, if other auditory devices, like stethoscopes could be made bluetooth compatable. They already have had amplified stethoscopes for years. A bluetooth stethoscope/hearing aid combo would be perfect for my boss who is hard of hearing and has trouble still using his stethoscope.
if you're hearing impared, there's one feature you'd want:
THE ABILITY TO HAVE A CAPS-LOCK ON YOUR SMS SO YOU CAN SHOUT IN ALL CAPS!
it makes it easier for you to "hear" the text message!
I have a new Nokia 9000i you can have for free. It will work on
e s
T-Mobile, Cingular or any GSM service. It will make you look like
Maxwell Smart with his shoe phone.
http://www.nokiausa.com/phones/9000i#phone_featur
I go to Rochester Institute of Technology, which has the NTID program and one of the biggest campuses for the deaf and hard of hearing. It probably still has more features than you want, but it seems most of those students are using some model of the sidekick.
Get a 9300 or a 9500. The 9500 has a considerably better keyboard but it's a bigger phone. The 9300 is very pocketable. They're probably relatively cheap now, because their successor (the E90) is almost ready. The E90 is somewhat bigger than the 9300 but smaller than the 9500. It's main benefits are multimedia and UMTS.
All of them have excellent keyboard compared to other phones and they still work like a decent phone as well (not like pda like windows smartphone lot).
Regards,
Peter