DEVELOPMENT OR ADAPTATION OF DEVICES MECHANISMS OR TECHNIQUES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH HEARING DISABILITIES "AN INEXPENSIVE MODEM AD-ON ACCESSORY FOR TDD COMMUNICATION"

THIS PROPOSAL OUTLINES AN APPROACH THAT ALLOWS MODERN COMPUTER HARDWARE TO BE USED FOR COMMUNICATING WITH TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICES FOR THE DEAF (TDD). A DEVICE TO BE ATTACHED TO ANY STANDARD COMPUTER MODEM WILL PROVIDE THE INTERFACE AND CONVERSION NECESARY FOR THIS TO TAKE PLACE. THE PROPOSED DEVICE WILL USE LOW COST DIGITAL PROCESSING HARDWARE AND ADVANCED SIGNAL PROCESSING TECHNIQUES. THE MICROPROCESSOR-BASED DESIGN PROVIDES THE POTENTIAL FOR MANY ADVANCED FEATURES. THE DEVICE WILL NOT AFFECT THE NORMAL USE OF THE USER'S COMPUTER, MODEM, OR TELEPHONE SERVICE, NOR WILL IT REQUIRE THE USE OF SPECIAL COMPUTER SOFTWARE. THE EXTENSION OF NORMAL MODEM COMMUNICATIONS TO INCLUDE TDD CAPABILITY WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO HEARING-IMPAIRED USERS BY PROVIDING A LOW COST ALTERNATIVE TO CONVENTIONAL TDD DEVICES.