Update September 2004

Israeli newspaper Yédiot Aharonot reports that an Israeli company has added the finishing touch to a unique telephone for the hard of hearing.

The telephone call will be announced to the hard of hearing person by means of a flashing light. The computer programme that is developed by the company will permit the hard of hearing to see an animated face on the screen and will make it possible for him to lipread the spoken words by the person he is calling with.

This technical equipment, which needed four years of intensive research and millions of dollars of investments, will be sold for about 200 dollars per piece, reports the journal.