Assistive Listening Devices at MSU

Do you use a hearing aid? Learn how our assistive listening devices can help you maximize your participation on campus!    

Real Time Captioning (RTC) and remote RTC- watch your professor's words appear on the computer screen

MSU currently provides Sign Language Interpreting and Real -Time Captioning

Read more about how this development has evolved in the article: New Technologies Connect for Classroom Access

Purple Communications: IP Relay & VRS

Individuals with hearing disabilities may find a variety of relay services available through Purple Communications to be very useful. Many of their services are free to users who are deaf or hard of hearing, and they offer solutions for use with desktop computers, mobile telephones and more. Some services involve an ASL interpreter and others use captioning, so individuals choose which options best suit their needs. 

Sorenson Video Relay Service- use sign language to talk on the phone

Sorenson Video Relay Service allows people who are deaf/hard of hearing to place telephone calls. The service works by allowing the user to see an ASL interpreter on a TV screen and sign to that person who then contacts the hearing user with a standard phone line, relaying the communication message between the two parties. The video relay service device also allows people who are deaf/hard of hearing to contact other people who are deaf/hard of hearing, using American Sign Language. For more information go to: Sorenson Video Relay Service.

Shareware Technology for Deaf/Hard of Hearing:

Free auto-caption software is in development by Google and YouTube. TechSmith also has a commercial product called Camtasia Relay.

Custom assistive technology at RCPD:

If you have a need for a technology device that is not available commercially, you can prepare a description and your idea will be considered for a collaborative RCPD/College of Engineering project. Ideas can be submitted via email using this form.