TDD / Minicom

You CAN use your PC as a TDD
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After a lot of searching around it seems there is software that you can download which enables people who own a PC to communicate with deaf people through a TDD (or minicom, if you're British and don't know what the hell TDD means.) Gallaudet University's Technology Assessment Program have made available a small but wonderfully straightforward program called ASCII-TDD which basically gives you a TDD within a DOS window and which you can use to make and answer calls to and from ASCII TDD's. I don't know much about this stuff, but, while the following readme looks pretty negative at first sight, I am yet to find a TDD through everyday use with which the program is incompatible. Perhaps the incompatible ones are phasing out. I must thank Adam White and Kerry Billington for helping me to find this. Adam tells me that there is other software called Phone Tools that he got with his USRobotics modem and that can be used for TDD communication too.
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Links
Download the program by clicking here - ASCII-TDD
Gallaudet University Home Page
Gallaudet University's Technology Assessment Program
Using your PC as a TDD FAQ
WinZip (for unzipping the ASCII-TDD zipfile)
Return to Jim's Home Page
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The following text is the entire readme file which accompanies ASCII-TDD, for information before you download it:
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*** FOR OLD VERSION USERS ***
Please read the "HOW TO CALL UP ASCII-TDD WHILE IN ANOTHER PROGRAM"
section toward the end of this README file.
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*** IMPORTANT INFORMATION ***
This software DOES NOT allow a standard modem, such as Hayes
compatible, to talk with a TDD in Baudot mode (the predominant
form of communication). However, it can talk to a TDD if the TDD
has ASCII mode option, and it is turned on. Please check with the
TDD user to see if the TDD has the ASCII option.
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The Technology Assessment Program (TAP) is pleased to make this
software available, free of charge, to encourage the use of ASCII,
especially for communication between millions of hearing
computer/modem owners and deaf and hard of hearing people who also
have access to ASCII communication. This software, called ASCII-
TDD, is the updated version of the former HAYESTDD software. Its
new name better reflects the purpose of the software.
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TO RUN THIS SOFTWARE:
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To start ASCII-TDD, turn on the computer and boot up the operating
system. After the system is up and running, switch to the "A" drive
or whatever drive you plan to use to run the program. Put your disk
in drive "A" and close the drive door. At the A> prompt, type
ASCIITDD and press the "Enter" button on your keyboard. The program
will load, and the simple commands for its use will appear on the
bottom of the screen.
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TO HEARING USERS OF THE SOFTWARE:
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If you are a hearing person calling a deaf or hard of hearing
person, this software will help. However, there are some things you
should know:
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1.    You MAY need to inform the deaf or hard of hearing person that
      you are going to call in ASCII.
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      A deaf person receiving a call has no way of knowing whether
      the incoming call is in ASCII or Baudot. Therefore it is up to
      the receiving device (the deaf person's TDD) to switch between
      ASCII and Baudot when a call comes in. MANY ASCII TDDs CANNOT
      DO THIS. Some have to be set manually to ASCII.
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      A deaf person may use a Baudot TDD for everyday conversation
      but may also have a computer and modem. Using this software,
      you can talk to the deaf person through his or her computer
      modem; but the deaf person will have to make arrangements to
      have the computer answer the phone instead of the TDD.
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      Both of these situations mean that you may have to inform the
      deaf person that you will be calling in ASCII. (Some deaf and
      hard of hearing TDD users do have products that can
      automatically switch between Baudot and ASCII, but these are
      a minority.) This is an unfortunate situation, but one that
      will not change in the immediate future.
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      You can reach the deaf person by calling a relay service and
      having the service contact the deaf person, so that you can
      inform the person you will call back in ASCII. Or, if fax
      machines are available, it may be possible to send a fax to
      the person. Once you have informed the deaf person that you
      will call in ASCII, you can then have a completely private
      conversation using this software.
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2.    If the deaf or hard of hearing person has a Hayes-compatible
      modem and an IBM-compatible computer, it may be helpful to
      send the person a copy of this software to use for
      communicating with you.
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3.    It is necessary to give a "GO AHEAD" signal to the person at
      the other end of the line. When you are finished typing, type
      "GA". It signals the other person to start typing. "SK" means
      "STOP KEYING." It indicates that the conversation is at an
      end. Both parties conclude with goodbyes and "SK" before
      either one hangs up.
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4.    It is not necessary to use the TAB or ENTER key when typing
      since a TDD display only displays one line of type at a time.
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TO DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING USERS OF THE SOFTWARE:
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If you are calling a hearing person with a computer and modem, this
software will help. However, there are some things you should know:
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1.    You MAY need to inform the hearing person that you are going
      to call in ASCII.
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      Most hearing people answer the telephone by voice. (Some phone
      lines are attached to computers and the computer answers the
      phone.) The hearing person may need to turn on the computer
      and have the computer answer the phone when you want to call.
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      Therefore, you may need to inform the hearing person that you
      will call back using ASCII. You can call the hearing person by
      using a relay service and informing the person you will call
      back in ASCII. Or, if fax machines are available, it may also
      be possible to send a fax to the person. Once you have
      informed the hearing person that you will call in ASCII, you
      can then have a completely private conversation using this
      software.
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2.    If the hearing person has a Hayes-compatible modem and an
      IBM-compatible computer, it may be helpful to send the person
      a copy of this software to use for communicating with you.
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3.    It is not necessary to use the TAB or ENTER key when typing
      since a TDD display only displays one line of type at a time.
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PROBLEMS OF BAUDOT and ASCII:
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In the early 1960s, AT&T switched from teletype equipment to
computers. It gave its old teletypes to deaf people for use as
telephone communication devices. These teletypes became the basis
for the modern Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) system
used by deaf and hard of hearing people. Today there are hundreds
of thousands of TDDs in use in this country.
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The old teletype equipment and the newer TDDs are based on the
Baudot code. This code uses five binary bits to symbolize each
character. Computers use a seven-bit code called ASCII or an
eight-bit code called extended ASCII. Baudot and ASCII codes are
not compatible.
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Some of the newer TDDs can communicate in either Baudot or ASCII
code. Many people purchase these TDDs and expect to be able to
communicate in ASCII with a friend who has a home computer and
modem. Unfortunately, almost all communicati