Technological advancements help us find solutions to any problem, and TTY mode isn't on your phone by pure chance! If you've already encountered this option while browsing your Android phone's settings, we'll explain what it's actually used for and how to activate it!
What is TTY mode on a mobile phone?
Have you ever wondered how people with hearing impairments can use their smartphones? Well, it's thanks to a built-in feature in most smartphones: TTY mode! This feature is designed to help people with hearing or speech difficulties use their mobile phones effectively. It allows any smartphone to a teletypewriter, also known as an ATS (Automatic Text Terminal) .
teletypewriter mode of the phone will therefore facilitate communication for those who suffer from speech difficulties. To achieve this, the mode converts all audio signals into readable text on the mobile phone screen once activated. Conversely, it can also function by sending written text as an audio message.
Today, many phones function as an ATS keypad terminal once you activate TTY mode. This mode can be categorized, and those who wish to use it will have the option to configure it according to their needs.
The different types of TTY modes on smartphones
There are three main types of TTY mode that normally operate on a mobile phone. However, there are four if the TTY option is not activated, i.e., when you are out of mode!
TTY mode disabled:
TTY disabled mode indicates that it is not yet activated on your phone. It is indeed possible to disable TTY mode when you do not wish to communicate via TTY messages.
Full TTY:
When both parties are mute or hearing impaired, activating and using full TTY mode is recommended. When this option is enabled on both the sending and receiving devices, all messages will be sent and received as text messages.
TTY HCO:
“TTY HCO (Hearing Carryover)” mode allows text messages to be sent as audio signals . The sender sends a text message, and the recipient can hear the audio on their device. This mode is frequently used by people with speech and language impairments . Therefore, if the recipient has no speech difficulties but the sender does, it would be best to activate and use TTY HCO mode to ensure smooth communication between the two people.
TTY VCO:
TTY VCO (Voice Carryover) functions as a speech-to-text conversion program . The sender sends an audio message, and TTY VCO converts it to text. The recipient then receives an SMS on their device. TTY VCO is frequently used by people with hearing loss.
How do I activate TTY mode on my Android phone?
Note that most mobile phones on the market are compatible with teletypewriters . Connection is made using an adapter that plugs directly into the " Sound " output of your smartphone. If you don't have one, here are the ones we recommend:
For your information, TTY mode is not enabled by default on your phone . You must therefore activate it yourself if you wish to use it. Before you begin, please note that the location of the options may vary slightly on some phones.
To activate TTY mode, here's what you need to do:
Step 1: Enter your mobile phone settings
Step 2: Click on the phone handset icon to launch the phone application
Step 3: Press the Menu button in the upper right corner of the window (3 overlapping dots)
Step 4: Click on the “Settings” option, then on “Accessibility”
Step 5: Select the TTY mode you wish to use from the list that will appear.
On some phones, this might not work due to their configuration. You should then try these different steps:
Step 1: Open your smartphone's settings
Step 2: Locate and then tap the Call icon
Step 3: Next, click on the “TTY Mode” option
Step 4 : Choose the TTY mode you want to activate on your mobile
How do I disable TTY mode on my mobile phone?
If, after activating TTY mode on your smartphone, you wish to deactivate , simply follow these steps:
Step 1: Open your settings
Step 2: Click on the telephone handset icon
Step 3: Tap the three overlapping dots in the upper right corner of the window
Step 4 : Click on the “Settings” and “Accessibility” options respectively.
Step 5: Check the box to enable TTY mode on your mobile device and it will be disabled.
Dear readers, here's what you need to know about the TTY mode on your mobile phone. If you are not hard of hearing or have any other hearing problems, we strongly recommend that you do not change the TTY setting on your phone. Leave this setting set to " OFF ".
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