TalkIR Configurator

I have been a C5 - C6 quadriplegic for over 30 years and have seen a lot of things change regarding technology and equipment. This has allowed me to live my life more independently.

The home phone system is another of my game changers and it works in coordination with the VoiceIR system I use to talk to my house. I can place and answer calls, dial, put calls on hold, even transfer calls and more by voice control. I simply speak voice commands and use the TalkIR in coordination with the Name and Digit Voice Dialer giving me access to 50 name and individual number dialing.

I have programmed the individuals I call the most but this also allows me to dial numbers that are not pre-programmed. So, let's say I receive a message to call someone I do not know. I would say "speakerphone" and it would say "yes sir" confirming that it has been activated. I say "4" and then it will beep letting me know that it understood me; then I say "6" and it beeps again; then "1" and it beeps and so on and so on. Then, at the end of my commands it says "dialing 461-5555 for example. When the phone call is over I say "speakerphone" and it says "yes sir" and I say "okay" and it hangs up for me.

I also use a switch attached to the phone that I mounted on the corner of the bedside table. This allows me to activate it or more importantly to hang it up. I found out the importance of having a second option when one time I forgot to voice activate the "hang up". Are you familiar with the noise your phone makes when it has been left off of the hook? Me too, for about 2 1/2 hours! The noise was so loud that the voice recognition would not work to hang it up because there was so much background noise. I also figured out that with our digital landline system, this incredibly annoying and loud sound does not stop until you physically hang it up. After my headache went away, I immediately ordered the switch. In fact, I did not answer the phone again until the switch was installed. It ended up being a pretty traumatic situation for me!

I bought the TalkIR at Broadened Horizons (www.broadened horizons.com). My friend Mark Fellings is the owner and the perfect person to assist me with my phone needs. Mark and I both have the same level of injury so he understands paralysis. He also has background in working on phone systems similar to this prior to his injury. Sometimes you can explain over and over to someone at a big-box retail store what your needs are until you are blue in the face and they do not understand what you need. Mark has lived it so it is easy for him to relate.

I also purchased the mounting bracket and mounted the phone on a bedside table. The cost depends on how many additional options you need and I bought it in coordination with the VoiceIR system. This system will cost you around $1000. If you do a YouTube video showing yourself using the product you get $100 off the total cost.

This may seem like a lot to spend for a phone but I did shop around and Mark even has comparisons of other phones. This was the best price I could find. Please keep in mind that it is important to have a reliable phone that you can access because if you are home alone it literally becomes your LIFELINE. This was the option I chose but they have lots of options including one that will call a list of numbers in case of an emergency.

I can remember prior to the Internet and prior to knowing about phones like this adapting one. We used a paint stick and duck tape to make an extension on the "ZERO / OPERATOR" button. If there was an emergency and I was home alone, I would push down on the paint stick, pushing the zero on the phone. Then, I would be able to get the operator and they would dial a number for me for a charge. This seems like medieval times compared to where we are these days but the reason I share this with you is to give you an idea just how far the technology has come.

Below is a list of some of the additional functions that this phone can do:

--Seamless integration with most Environmental Control Systems (ECUs)
VoiceIR Infrared Voice Controller
Tash Relax, Relax II, SiCare
Gewa, and any capable of learning infrared signals
--Powerful yet easy to program for differenct user needs
--50 number, user-friendly easy to program address book
--Auto Answer option for those who find it difficult to answer in time
--Professional, Business Conference Room Quality
--Adaptive Microphone Gain Technology
--Crystal clear sound with OmniSoundTM - Sounds as if the person you're talking to is in the same room
--Automatically tunes itself to the acoustics of the room
--Full Duplex Natural sound for both parties in both directions!
--Plug into any analogue landline (PSTN)
--Large illuminated display shows number to dial, time in call, and volume
--Keypad for convenient use by anyone
--Audio output for recording conversations on computer

Original Article: http://www.assistivetechservices.org/ArticleDisplay.asp?prid=26