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Amanda Butterfield Reporting There is something new at the Salt Lake City airport to help make traveling easier. It's a phone that you'll only find in our airport, but that you'll hopefully start seeing in other airports soon.
To be more specific, it's a video phone, located right inside by the two baggage claim areas. It's for the deaf and hard of hearing.
George Wild, Utah Assoc. for the Deaf: "It's like beautiful techonology."
Many of those who are deaf, like George Wild, already have a video phone in their home or place of work, but this is the first in a public place. For travelers who can't hear, it's going to make things a lot easier at the airport.
George Wild, Utah Assoc. for the Deaf: "It would help me if my flight was delayed, I could call my wife and tell her, ‘Don't pick me up for another half hour or so.'"
Here's how it works: The person enters the number they want to call; an interpreter appears on the screen, connects the individuals, and relays the conversation between them. The call is made using high speed internet, but the person receiving the call uses a standard phone line or cell phone. It's that simple.
George Wild, Utah Assoc. for the Deaf: "I think the video phone is a real miracle."
Ron Burdett, Soreson Comm.: "This tech has had huge impact on deaf community's lives."
And that's something to cheer about. You can bet, Salt Lake International won't be the only airport to have one of these for long.
Ron Burdett, Sorenson Communications: "Once it's heard that this tech is available at this airport, by word of mouth this is going to spread throughout the nation."
The cost of a call on the video phone is free.
