A revolutionary device which opens up a whole new world for those born deaf is now being demonstrated in Wellington.
It is a phonotype, an electronic device which allows an ordinary telephone to be linked to a teleprinter, so that for the first time in their lives the deaf can communicate with each other on the telephone.
The social worker at the deaf welfare centre in Auckland, Mr L G Manning, has brought the machine with him to show it to the Wellington Deaf Society.
The New Zealand Post Office has donated 50 obsolete teleprinters to the deaf of New Zealand to be used with the electronic device, which is American made and costs $184 a unit.
Ten of the machines are coming to the Wellington area, another 10 are going to Christchurch, and the rest are being used in Auckland, where they are distributed among “pockets” of deaf people.
Mr Manning said the audible ringing tones which indicate if a line is clear or engaged, or busy are converted into a visual blinking light system on the electronic unit.
To answer one of these phones the deaf person will identify himself and then write the letters “ga”, giving the caller the “go ahead” to relay his message.
The original idea was devised by a deaf man in the United States and Mr Manning said those in New Zealand who have the device swear they will never part with it.
New Zealand is only the second country in the world to adopt the system so far. At present the British are going ahead with it, but Mr Manning said countries like Australia still haven’t even started to think about it.
He heard about the idea in the United States about two years ago and wrote to America for information.
Another 20 months passed by before interest was shown here. The McKenzie Educational Foundation, part of the J R McKenzie Trust, gave $2500 to commence the system in Auckland.
Predicted
Since then public donations in Auckland have raised $7500 to finance equipment in about four months, and Mr Manning is planning a bright future for this new type of communication for the deaf.
Caption under image: Auckland social worker for the born deaf, Mr L G Manning, holds in his left hand the key to a fuller life for the deaf… it’s a phonotype, which allows a telephone to be linked with a teleprinter so they can communicate with one another.
