Lesson plan
Deafnet
Deafnet (or DEAFNET) was created as a demonstration project in 1978 by SRI International (previously known as Stanford Research Institute) at Washington's Gallaudet University for the deaf. It was funded by The United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to demonstrate the advantages of e-mail for deaf people. Deafnet was the first real use of the telecommunications device for the deaf. Deafnet offered a way for hearing impaired people, whose information sources have previously been limited by their available channels of communication, to interact with and benefit from the new communications-based society. Deafnet was designed as a Computer System, integrating devices designed for hearing impaired users as well as standard computer terminals. DEAFNET also introduced real time 'chat' in which users could converse in real time using text. The standard equipment consisted of a Zenith ZT-1 terminal, a Superphone (a terminal with built-in coupler that allows for either Baudot or ASCII hookup as well as a 1000 character buffer), and an Epson printer. The Superphone device retailed for $495 in 1981. DEAFNET was considered a viable alternative for reduced costs in telecommunications for the deaf, however the advent of ASCII compatible terminals and eventually the Internet superseded its need.
Article summary
Deafnet (or DEAFNET) was created as a demonstration project in 1978 by SRI International (previously known as Stanford Research Institute) at Washington's Gallaudet University for the deaf. It was funded by The United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to demonstrate the advantages of e-mail for deaf people. Deafnet was the first real use of the telecommunications device for the deaf. Deafnet offered a way for hearing impaired people, whose information sources have previously been limited by their available channels of communication, to interact with and benefit from the new communications-based society. Deafnet was designed as a Computer System, integrating devices designed for hearing impaired users as well as standard computer terminals. DEAFNET also introduced real time 'chat' in which users could converse in real time using text. The standard equipment consisted of a Zenith ZT-1 terminal, a Superphone (a terminal with built-in coupler that allows for either Baudot or ASCII hookup as well as a 1000 character buffer), and an Epson printer. The Superphone device retailed for $495 in 1981. DEAFNET was considered a viable alternative for reduced costs in telecommunications for the deaf, however the advent of ASCII compatible terminals and eventually the Internet superseded its need.
Key claims
No claims recorded.
Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
No sources recorded.
Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.