History of Wireless Devices in Deaf Community
1 03 2007In past 10 years, I’ve showed some of my old collection of wireless devices that I used over years. The video is about six minutes long.
List of devices that I showed on this video.
- RIM - ReachNET pager
- Motorola - PageWriter 2000x under WebLink Wireless
- Motorola - Timeport under Sprint
- Motorola - i85e cell phone under Nextel
- Danger Sidekick 2 under T-Mobile
- Danger Sidekick 3 under T-Mobile
- XV6700 with Microsoft Mobile 5.0 under Verizon Wireless
- Blackberry 7520 under Nextel
List of devices that I don’t have but I did mentioned in this video.
- Motorola Beeper-type (number and alphanumeric type)
- SkyTel pager
- Motorola T900 - I have it somewhere but I cannot find it.
- Danger Sidekick 1 — Traded with Danger Sidekick 2
Click here to view this video or click here to view all another my vlog.
Unless they finally show two-way video in realtime, I still miss my Wyndtell pager — simple, straightforward, idiotproof.
My very first toy is a red Motorola Talkabout 900 I used for 3 years till the coverage was gone. I still love it because its tiny and easy to carry. Its on my desk. It was very handy when I was stranded at one of the airports after landing during the 9/11 attack. My second one is Blackberry 7730 and now I’m using a Sidekick II. I could surf internet and use the i711 relay service in my SK II when I’m away from my computer.
What about iPhone? Just curious what you think of it…..
I am awaiting for Apple iPhone, it is FULL like 6 in 1 ok let me telling you 1) Web Browser (HTML), 2) Email: yahoo and google, 3) chat: ichat, yahoo and aim 4) movie and picture 5) music: ipod already inside and of course 6) Smart Phone: cell, text message.
Also iPhone has built in camera (High Quality 2.0 mp), it has WiFi (802.11b/g) + EDGE + Bluetooth 2.0
You must see it at Apple iPhone
They have pictures and movies to see, you will falling in love with it
I had a Timeport Motorola which worked really well for me but I switched to Blackberry 7520 as it had more features on it plus both were provided by my employer.
Grant, it appears you should set up a mini-museum with your collection of wireless gadgets and keep going as technology evolves and improves for us deaf consumers!!!
As a Mac user at home, I am curious as others are, to see the actual iPhone when it’s out and if it will be functional for us???
The best mobile phone I love, it was i705 Palm. Unfortunately, Palm dot net decide to shut down. So, I had to find wireless service to use. blah..
Buy iphone! It’s champ and the best available in the market when it’s coming out. I believe it. I am a Mac user and it’s perfect to own one.
Wireless Communication Devices for the Deaf…
Grant W. Laird, Jr. takes a stroll down memory lane with “History of Wireless Devices in Deaf Community.” Thinking about my experience, I can’t believe how many devices I’ve gone through since 1993 in my first job out of college…
I had all those devices and now i have a mda from t-mobile. it has a video as well as a sliding cover for keyboard. i love that mda!
HEY GRANT LET ME KNOW THE NEXT NEW TECHNOLOGY WITH VIDEO CAPABILITIES ON PHONE. I WILL WAIT TILL MY CONTRACT EXPIRE ON MY SK3 AND IT IS TIME TO LOOK FOR A BETTER ONE. MORE LIKELY WITH VERIZON CUZ OF VERY GOOD COVERAGE. WILL KEEP EYE ON BLUETOOTH TECHNOLOGY AND VIDEO AS WELL.
It was my fourth time I gave my husband when he need to use skytel some how I lost his pager for emergency. he was mad.. so he found one of better pager.
Then I got Motorola - PageWriter 2000x under WebLink Wireless After Worldcom were charged us too much it was over 175 dollars later I foundout that the ERON were mess up and theif from all of people by their bills. They were fraud. I pissed off and close the Motorola. I love it. but later I closed my husband’s pager and mine. It became more difficult time after I heard about Wytell have tech alot of problem.
So, later I decide to work at Clinic. I have no way to call anyone during my work lunch hour. Then, I gave up and bought Sidekick 2 I love it.. I am keep forever. I hope so.. but wait for new cell phone better. I still dont like SK 3
So, Any update after Verison. Funny.. I just talked with my classmate nearly 30 years ago. We lives in Seattle and She lives in California in Fremont.. she say her airmail is no longer able to recieived or sent .. it keep more problem I gave her more information about email/cell or text.. she try to figure out. I am tried to keep touch with her for Class REunion. That’s most sucker with airmail. it is fade now … she decide to plan to close it and get one new she still have hard time to decide which she would buy one of these cell/text or emai,etc.
Margaret