Text Pager for Airport Use?
June 2001
Diane G. (logansigns@deafspot.net) recently came up with what sounds
like a great idea to assist people with hearing loss in airports (and
other facilities with large waiting areas - bus stations, hospitals,
etc.) Her idea is for the airport (or individual airlines) to loan text
pagers to people with hearing loss. Messages that are transmitted over
the public address system would also be sent to the pagers, ensuring
that people with hearing loss are informed of gate changes, flight
delays, etc.
Diane is pursuing this idea with her local airport. In the meantime,
she is interested in people's thoughts on this idea - pros and cons.
Also, if anyone is aware of other approaches to making this information
available to people with hearing loss, she would be interested in
hearing about that, as well. So if you have any thoughts on this
initiative, please let Diane know. (I'd also appreciate being copied so
I can pass that info along to our readers.)
Reader Thoughts on Airport Text Pagers
June 2001
A few weeks ago, we printed a story about a reader who is working
with her local airport to provide text pagers to passengers with hearing
loss. The idea is that messages that are announced over the PA system
would also be directed to the pagers, so that the pager users could be
informed of what's going on.
We got several reader responses, nearly all of which concerned
problems that a pager would have resolved. Here are some of their
comments.
One reader noted that he is unable to hear the boarding announcements
(which are called by row numbers), and that has resulted in personal
embarrassment and delays for other passengers. Access to a pager that
announced row numbers would easily solve this problem.
Another reader noted that he currently resorts to what he calls his
"grandmother" routine - he finds a kindly looking grandmother
type and asks her to relay important announcements to him. It works
pretty well - better than relying on the attendants - and seems like a
good way to meet fellow passengers. But a text pager would be a more
secure way to alleviate this problem.
Another reader recognized the value of the idea, but raised a number
of practical concerns. She asked who would do the typing, and how
careful they might be. She also pointed out that some announcements are
intended only for certain gates, and she wondered how the pager user
could avoid being overwhelmed with hordes of irrelevant announcements.
She was also concerned that people might forget and board the plane with
pager in hand.
All good questions, but I don't see any show stoppers. Hopefully this
movement will progress quickly. Thanks to everyone who sent their
comments. And if anyone hears more about this (or sees something in
operation!) please let me know.
