Some time ago, I was at the meeting for the deaf about education for the state. I notice about caption on screen from the projector. It was from an alternative interpreter for deaf without ASL skill where they can read what the speaker give the speech.

So, I look up to see what kind equipment that they use to type, and find it is called stenotype or shorthand machine. They’re mostly used in the court as reporter. Also, it is used for live closed caption on news.

I find fancy about Stenotype that write speed on WPM (word per minutes) skill. Fact, it can be over 200 WPM, but the most jobs are required at least 300 WPM. It’s amazing how fast they can type than the regular keyboard!

I thought about it. Why can’t we use stenotype as TTY? It could speed up our communication and save our cost on long distance over telephone bill. Well, it’s too late! They should have done that long time ago, since stenotype was invented in 19th century and TTY was invented in about hundred years later.

Of course, the problem would cause that we might not afford to hire stenographer to train as youth how to use and type like piano tutor. Probably it would be difficult to read because of odd language how it write. For example, letter appear K and R in single line is “cell” and K in one line is “call”. Probably it could affect our language how we learn to read. I have no idea how it would affect the grammar as well.

Still… I have thought as what if, in Parallel universe, that used stenotype and TTY in one for deaf. It would be cool though. Be happy, there is videophone that solution everything for deaf’s need. That sure took so long time.