The Network Computer is the "buzz word"t oday. There is intense competition between major players in the computing world like Microsoft, Intel, Diba, and Panasonic among others. The Network Computer has the potential to integrate all the functions of telephony, viz. Internet, television, radio, e-mail and video telephony into one highly integrated, low-cost device. It is "web based" and will be driven by cutting edge software such as Java or Active X. Prices range from $300 to $800. The price will of course be sensitive to intense competition by manufacturers and public demand. The price of the Network computer that supplants the conventional telephone, TDD, answering machine and comparable devices will be highly cost-effective. This new technology, more by default thundering, will not provide access to the TDD, which remains the basic telecommunication device for the hearing impaired. Fortunately, most Network Computer swill be software programmable and therefore open to TDD emulation, modification of standard e-mail protocols to imbed TDD messages into the e-mail box with ability to read, delete, forward, carbon copy, and remote access TDD messages. This will be revolutionary innovation in the e-mail environment. This new technology though highly sophisticated, canny simple modification and adaptation made very "disability friendly".Summary Of Anticipated Results And Implications:The commercial potential for the Network Computer insubstantial. The concept is revolutionary and the technology can meet it. It is a significant advance in telephony that will result in refinements and considerable savings in government and corporate offices. In addition to several inherent advantages, it will also eliminate the need for TDD answering machines and dedicated TDD lines along with the specialized hardware interfaces involved. The Network Computer lends itself to easy adaptation and upgrading well as the addition of many new and innovative features that are an integral part of modern telephony. They include Fax capability, Voice synthesis, Voice Recognition, Voice Recording and Video Telephony, these enhancements being made available in the form of free software upgrades vitae network. Most Network Computers have a common denominator that will be the basis for modifications accept TDD. Once this has been accomplished, it should be easy to broadcast the software and subsequent upgrades to other similar Network Computers-line, using a web site. The Network Computer Willie inclusive of the hearing impaired and the inevitable trend expansion in its use, will eliminate the need for specialized disability hardware such as TDD'S. It is anticipated that substantial savings will accrue as the Network Computer is introduced into motif not all Government and Corporate offices as well astute private sector.
