CORDLESS, FULL-DUPLEX, HANDS-FREE-OPERATION SPEAKERPHONE

THE SEVERELY DISABLED AND MOTION-IMPAIRED OFTEN CANNOT OPERATE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TELEPHONES. THE EXPEDITIOUS DEVELOPMENT OF USABLE, RELIABLE, AND ACCESSIBLE TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT WOULD PROVE COST EFFECTIVE BY DELAYING OR PREVENTING INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF THE SEVERELY DISABLED FOR CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS (E.G., RESIDUAL BLADDER INFECTIONS, RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS, DYSREFLEXIA, AND DECUBITI). SUCH INSTITUTIONALIZATION OFTEN OCCURS DIRECTLY AS A RESULT OF BEING UNABLE TO SECURE APPROPRIATE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE BY TELEPHONE. DRAWING UPON KNOWLEDGE OF THE QUADRIPLEGIC'S NEEDS AND BASING RESEARCH ON CURRENT CORDLESS-TELEPHONE TECHNOLOGY, DIVERSIFIED TECHNOLOGY, INC. PROPOSES TO DEVELOP AND INTEGRATE CIRCUITRY THAT WILL PROVIDE HANDS-FREE ACTIVATION AND OPERATION, AUTOMATIC DIALING, AND SIMULTANEOUS RECEPTIONAND TRANSMISSION. DESIGNING A DEVICE SMALL ENOUGH TO ALLOW PORTABILITY WILL ENHANCE AND ENCOURAGE INDEPENDENCE AND DECREASE THE REQUIREMENTS AND RELATED COSTS OF IN-HOME CARE. PROVIDING JACKS FOR ALTERNATIVE SWITCHES AND HEADSETSWILL PERMIT MOLDING THE DEVICE TO THE USER'S CAPABILITIES. THOUGH INTENDED FOR THE DISABLED, THE POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS IN THE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL MARKETS FOR SUCH AN INNOVATIVE TELEPHONE ARE NUMEROUS, AND WOULD INCLUDE CONFERENCE ROOMS, RECORD-RETRIEVAL CENTERS, BEAUTY SALONS, MEDICAL CLINICS, TELEMARKETING, AND OTHERS.