Hamilton Telecommunications Announces Enhanced Feature which Saves Time and Money for Relay Services Users

AURORA, NE - Hamilton Telecommunications Relay Services Division, which link individuals with a hearing and/or speech disability to hearing individuals via the telephone, announces the availability of Turbo Code, an enhanced feature allowing increased data transmission speeds for messages typed using TTY (Teletypewriter) devices in all of its relay centers.

Dixie Ziegler, Director of Relay for Hamilton Telecommunications, stated that 'Hamilton is convinced that relay calls that make use of Turbo Code are faster and more efficient because neither party has to wait for Baudot tones to finish. With Turbo Code, relay conversations more closely achieve a natural rate of conversation.'

Turbo Code, developed by Ultratec, Inc. of Madison, Wisconsin, is a protocol that represents the most advanced technology currently available allowing faster connections without some of the limitations of Baudot connections. 'We are pleased to have Turbo Code in all our relay centers. Now all of Hamilton's customers can make use of Turbo Code on every relay call.'

Baudot, a 30-year-old technology, transmits data at a maximum of 60 words per minute while Turbo Code allows transmittal at approximately double that speed. In a Turbo Code to Turbo Code TTY conversation, it is estimated that, if both typists were able to transmit to the maximum speed, the length of the call would be cut in half. During a relay conversation, it is fair to assume that the hearing party is speaking much quicker than 60 words per minute. With technology that allows the Communications Assistant to transmit over 100 words per minute, the time it takes to complete a call can be reduced. If you add the fact that many TTY users can type faster than 60 words per minute, you are again decreasing the amount of time. 'Given the variance in typists, we are comfortable estimating a 20-30% reduction in time,' says Barbara Dreyfus, Vice President, Marketing for Ultratec. Since calls can take less time with Turbo Code, it can translate to savings on a user's phone bill.

Turbo Code technology has been a standard feature on a significant number of TTY devices sold and distributed to the deaf, hard of hearing and speech impaired relay user community for a number of years. Turbo Code is compatible with all other TTYs regardless of whether they have old or new technology. Turbo Code machines will automatically recognize and use Baudot code if the other machine is not capable of using Turbo Code.

Turbo Code users are capable of sending and receiving a full expanded character set as fast as the user types. This permits the Communication Assistant (CA) to transmit information at a more conversational pace, lessening the time it takes to complete a relay call.

Source:
Ultratec, Inc.
450 Science Drive
Madison, WI 53711
U.S.A.
(800) 482-2424 Voice/TTY (US only)
www.Ultratec.com