German Deaf People Using Text Communication Short Message Service, TTY, Relay Services, Fax, and E-Mail

• Published in: American annals of the deaf (Washington, D.C. 1886) Vol. 152; no. 3; pp. 291 - 301
• Main Authors: Power, Des, Power, Mary R., Rehling, Bernd
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Gallaudet University Press 2007
• Subjects: Australia; Cell phones; Cellular telephones; Communication; Communication Aids for Disabled; Communications industries; Communications technology; Comparative Analysis; Computer mediated communication; Computer Use; Data analysis; Deafness; Deafness - ethnology; Digital divide; Electronic Mail; Email; Facsimiles; FEATURE ARTICLES; Foreign Countries; German; German language; Germany; Gratification; Humans; Internet; Interpersonal communication; Interpersonal Relationship; Literacy; Manual Communication; Mobile phones; Observation; Online Surveys; Polls & surveys; Population Distribution; Psychological Needs; Psychology; Respondents; School Schedules; Sign language; Social classes; Social communication; Social interaction; Social Networks; Surveys; Telecommunications; Telephone; Telephone Surveys; Telephones; Urban Areas; Written Language; Australia; Germany
• ISSN: 0002-726X; 1543-0375; 1543-0375
• DOI: 10.1353/aad.2007.0030

AN ONLINE SURVEY of German deaf people demonstrated that they use text communication through Short Message Service (SMS), e-mail, fax, and telephone typewriters (TTY) to communicate within communities of deaf and hearing people. SMS is used most, with more than 96% of respondents having access to a mobile phone. Most use is intrinsic and directed toward sociability (keeping in contact, and making arrangements with friends and family). However, there is some instrumental use (getting tasks or business accomplished, making appointments, and obtaining information). German survey respondents wanted a better relay service, more connectivity among the various technologies, and full interactivity in making calls by any technology. In comparison with an Australian sample, German deaf people could not rely on extensive relay services connecting people with a TTY to hearing telephone subscribers for calls of either a social or business nature.