From: Karen.Keil@p0.f809.n104.z1.fidonet.org (Karen Keil)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: SHHH report 4 of 13
Date: 12 Aug 92 21:32:22 GMT
Reply-To: Karen.Keil@p0.f809.n104.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:104/809.0 - Fantasy Mountain, Golden CO
X-Fidonet: Silent Talk Conference

Index Number: 23910

[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

Part 4 of the SHHH Convention --- Cedar Rapids, Iowa

June 26, 1992 cont.

The Exhibits Reception---

What's covered here are the noteworthy and new in the exhibits.
As for the reception itself, they served ice cream with all kinds
of toppings for you to put on.  Very refreshing!

Now for the exhibits...all the information are from all the times
I toured the exhibits on various days---there's no need to talk
about the exhibits repeatedly.

This year was the first time the exhibitors were allowed to sell
their products on the exhibition floor.  HARC took advantage of
this by bringing a lot of merchandise and did a good business in
assistive and other devices.

----------------------------

COMPLY---Custom Soft Earmold
by Hearing Components and Disposables
Health Care Specialities Division
3M Health Care Group
Building 225-1N-12, 3M Center
St. Paul, MN 55144-1000

This is a orange-colored foam earmold that you squeeze flat and
put in your ear and it inflates back to conform to your ear canal
for maximum fit, reducing feedback and other problems. According
to a letter from them, they were able to enlist 125 conventioners
(including myself) for a 6-week trial study to try out the molds.
You dispose of the mold after two weeks or when soiled.

According to the brochure, the advantages are --
--no waiting for a custom ear molding casting or fitting---
--8 (eight) styles with multiple venting options
--fit securely, won't slip out when inserted properly
--reduce annoying feedback and whistling
--not visible when inserted properly (oh, what vanity!!!!)
--soft at room temperature, ultrasoft at body temperature--this
makes it comfortable
--improve reliability of hearing aid
--prevent wax buildup

They are shaped like short fat tubes.  They are intriguing
things.  I had to get used to it and had problems with my jaw
being tense because it was trying to 'hold' onto the earmold
while my regular old hard one was in the other ear.  They gave a
6-week supply to each person. After 6 weeks, then a questionnaire
will come in the mail.
---------------------------------

AT&T

Videophone--
They featured a videophone with a COLOR display.  The image is
kind of blurry and not very defined but you can recognize the
person.  I could recognize myself on the display when the
representative demonstrated it to me.  I think the display is
LCD, but am not sure.

Relay computer/monitor setup--
They also had a computer/monitor setup that their relay operators
use which was also demonstrated.  The monitor was monochrome
orange--it was interesting to see TDD conversations from the
viewpoint of the operator.

Compact TDD 2930--
Their compact TDD 2930 has a feature that my Ultratec compact TDD
does not have---the words AUTO, ASCII, BAUDOT appearing on the
opening display when you turn it on.  You can switch the TDD from
autoswitching between baudot and ASCII to have it on Baudot or
Ascii only.  My TDD is always autoswitching no matter what mode I
have it on, so guess no need to indicate the mode.  Other than
that, it's the same as mine with its 32 K memory option installed.

Printing TDD 2830--
Their printing TDD 2830 has all the features of their compact TDD
plus the printer and a few other features.  They have 32 K
memory, personalized telephone directory with numbers you can
dial by pressing a button on the keyboard without typing them out
and a full-featured answering system that allows you to screen
incoming calls, store mesages and access messages remotely.
---------------------------------
To be continued....

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