At 08:04 AM 2/25/99 -0500, you wrote:
>After reading the message with regards to people with severe disAbilities
>it brings to mind some questions? How many people who don't know Morse
>code will these people with severe disAbilities be able to comunicate
>with?

Hi,

I didn't read the article, but do know that Morse code isn't just a direct
communication method.  It can be used to input into a computer or other
communication device and, the device, in turn can produce synthetic speech.
 It can also be used to access a computer for all the reasons we use one
and more,. like environmental control.  It is a much less complex input
system for someone who can't type than speech input or visual scanning
methods and for someone who can't talk or see and also can't type it can be
the only method.

In addition, it can be a useful output systemm.   I have heard of one
deaf-blind person who had too much neuropathy to read braille hooking up a
tennis ball to a Morse code output device  as a successful output system.
I thin k this would work for more people if they could learn the code and
it is certaqinly easier to learn than braille or sign language.  Not a
substitute, but certainly a useful additional skill, or for someone who
can't learn to read braille for some reason.

Morse code output via vibrations has been offered as one solution to how a
deaf-blind person could access talking signs.  The signs would need to
broadcast bot the verbal and Morse code options but that would not be a
great addition from a financial  perspective.  The talking sign technology
has more to offer a deaf-blind person potentially than it does a hearing
blind person, and I know I look forward to that technology being broadly
implemented, having had the opportunity to try it out once with amazing
results.  It could even be used to give a deaf-blind person access to
traffic light info, but through what output system that is easily used
while travelling?  Only Morse code offers something simple enough for this
purpose.

Use your imagination and you will see lots of applications.

In addition, what about a severly disabled person in a country where there
is no access to expensive technology?  It would be pretty easy to train  a
potential interpreter in Morse code to help the communication back and
forth.  Much easier and cheaper for people who have limited options than
rigging up computer systems and, even then, Morse might turn out to be the
best input system.


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