DeafBlind Communicator helps deaf / blind individuals communicate
By Darren Murph 
posted Jun 8th 2009 12:15AM
posted Jun 8th 2009 12:15AM
Every so often, we stumble upon a new piece of technology designed to assist deaf and / or blind individuals, but we've yet to see a creation so complete as this. HumanWare, working in tandem with the Washington State Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing, has concocted a DeafBlind Communicator to provide a trio of communication options to handicapped individuals: face-to-face-, TTY and SMS. The DBS system consists of two separate components -- the BrailleNote and a DB-Phone, the latter of which is a specially designed handset with a QWERTY keyboard and unique software that helps the deaf-blind community converse with bus drivers, waiters, friends, family, etc. The Braille menus enable those folks to easily strike up conversations and live life more easily, and it seems as if sales inquiries are being fielded as we speak.[Thanks, Drew]
really? I thought the device just lacked a microphone and a camera.
Awesome! As one of the few deaf Engadget readers over the years, this has to be the coolest and practical device for the deaf and blind individuals. This will enable them to open up to the world much like we take for granted everyday. The price shouldn't matter anyway, since this equipment will be covered under the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation by different states, to be given to these disabled folks.
I remember visiting an institution 20 years ago that was full of such individuals... it was an eye-opening experience! They have it much harder in life than we realize.
As for GBeatzRecrds.. that's highly insensitive - as much as you were trying to convey a sense of humour to this article, it is completely inappropriate.
Eye-opening experience? You bastard.
Agreed,
I am also deaf, and i have to say that although we deaf people communicate in a different way, we are by no means stupider or lesser life forms. We, while grateful, do not need the pity of hearing people we can communicate just fine. we can also communicate with you, without using our voices, or your hearing, through writing, as i am doing so right now. the same goes for blind individuals.
(agreed to sefirato)
I apologize. And CleverEndeavor, I do NOT have anything against deaf or blind people. I am not "pitying" you. At all. It was a joke, and not even one meant to hurt deaf or blind people.
Best headline ever. Pure poetry.
"DeafBlind Communicator helps deaf / blind individuals communicate."
I bet you thought this was going to be a story about pinball.
Thumbs up from me.. although im neither deaf or blind, i think the greatest technologies are those that (successfully) help the impaired...
Another thumbs up from me. Great move.
WAIT WAIT.
DeafBlind Communicator helps deaf / blind individuals communicate?!
I THOUGHT IT WAS FOR TACOS.
What is this I don't even
taco's? sure... it helps deaf/blind individuals order tacos....
This would have helped Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098282/