December 1995

Information Access: Bypassing The Super Highway

There are all kinds of Information out there - if you only know that it exists and then find a way to access it. The Internet is one such example. The Internet is great! I use it myself, once in a while when I have the time. I am computer literate; I own a personal computer; I am just beginning to use e-mail, I surf and browse on the information super highway.

In relationship to the general public or common person, however I consider myself very fortunate and the exception not the rule when it comes to education and socioeconomic standards that provide me the opportunity to access such a resource as the Internet.

But, when I have the need to: check my bank balance; file my 1040 EZ income tax forms, register for college courses; verify the status of my blood test, or check for job opportunities, among many other things, the Internet is useless. In fact as a hearing person, I know there are hundreds of thousands of automated telephone systems out there that can give me this type of inormation (both general and specific - day or night), so long as I can get to a push button phone. As a minimum, I can usually get to a public push button phone - even when I'm traveling at 37,000 feet!

What's my point? None of those automated phone systems (also known as Interactive Telephone Voice Response Systems (ITVRS)) are accessible via the Internet. I use these types of information systems everyday. In fact, many times when I call a government agency or private business that accommodates the general public like hotels, banks, universities and hospitals, I go one. "Hi,you have reached ABC company, if you know the extension of the party or department you would like to reach, dial it now", or "For information specific to your account, dial 2, etc." Again, I stress the point that this type of information from ABC company is not available on the Internet.

The automated systems or ITVRS that do make this information available are very important to businesses and government agencies. They improve the flow and availability of certain types of information that isn't, and probably shouldn't be, available via the Internet. Because of these ITVRS, when I call such organizations I seldom get a "ring & no answer" or busy signal. More and more businesses and government agencies are using them because they are very cost effective. Don't be fooled, despite the up and coming technologies, as grand and impressive as they are, this ITVRS technology will continue to grow and expand for the next ten years as a minimum. The information provided from these thousands and thousands of automated "voice" systems is a different type of information than the information obtainable from the Internet. It is typically shorter, personally specific, private, timely, easily accessible from a common device (like a push button phone), and you don't have to be computer literate or have a computer to get it. All you need is your hearing and a push button phone.

My next point, what about the 26 million Americans who use TTY's to communicate over the phone? Except for the approximately 25 TTY accessible systems DiRAD has implemented, ITVRS type systems cannot be directly accessed by callers using TTY's. WHY? Is it because of technology limitations? No! Is it because business and government are unaware of the of the existing technology? Possibly. Is it because of the lack of knowledge and demand for this type of TTY access? Probably.

The Internet is a wonderful thing, but it is not a substitute for Interactive Telephone Voice and TTY Response Systems. Let us not forget that the future availability of these technologies and many others lies in great part in the hands of those people the technology can best serve. It is truly a matter of awareness. Awareness that the technologies exist and awareness of the right to have access.

One final thought. Yes, the TTY is a rather old technology in comparison to the Internet, but so is our phone system (you know, rotary phones and all), however TTY's do work. They are conversational in real time; they are easy to use; they can be used with any push button phone and acoustic cups; they are reliable; they are relatively inexpensive and most deaf people have the education and resources necessary to use them.

See for yourself - call a few of these TTY telephone numbers implemented by DiRAD. Remember, these resources cannot be accessed through the Internet. They are accessed simply through a push button phone and TTY. NYNEX (Savings on phone service) (212) 765-5039 (TTY) Securities and Exchange Commission (202) 942-4095 (TTY) Department of Justice (800) 514-0383 (TTY) NYS School for the Deaf (315) 337-8489 (TTY) For more information about TTY access to ITVRS, call me at (800) 724-6570 (TTY) extension 254, or (800) 778-2927 (voice) extension 110. You can write to DiRAD Technologies, Inc., 14 Computer Drive East, Albany, NY 12205. E-mail at ir003847@interramp.com.

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