James C. Marsters facts for kids

James Carlyle Marsters (April 5, 1924 – July 28, 2009) was a deaf orthodontist from Pasadena, California. In 1964, he helped create the very first teletypewriter (TTY) that could work with regular telephone lines. This amazing invention made it possible for deaf people to talk on the phone. While Robert Weitbrecht designed much of the device, Marsters worked hard to make sure people used it.

Early Life and His Journey

James Marsters was born on April 5, 1924, in Norwich, New York. When he was very young, he lost his hearing because of scarlet fever and measles. Even so, he learned to speak and read lips very well.

He graduated from the Wright Oral School for the Deaf in New York City in 1943. Later, in 1947, Marsters earned a chemistry degree from Union College in Schenectady, New York.

Marsters wanted to become a dentist. Even though his test scores were high, many dental schools said no because he was deaf. After applying for two and a half years, New York University finally let him in. He graduated from New York University in 1952.

In 1954, after studying at USC, he started his orthodontist practice in Pasadena. He had three children: James Jr., Jean, and Guy. James Marsters passed away on July 28, 2009, from a heart problem.

Making Phone Calls Possible for Deaf People

Before the TTY, if Marsters got a phone call, someone else had to answer. They would then mouth the words so he could read lips, and he would reply. At that time, there were TTY networks for businesses, but they were too costly for regular people.

Marsters approached Robert Weitbrecht, a deaf physicist. He asked Weitbrecht to create a device. This device would let deaf people use teletypewriters over phone lines.

How the TTY Worked

Weitbrecht believed an acoustic coupler (which is like an early modem) could change electrical signals into sounds. These sounds could then travel through phone wires. On the other end, the sounds would turn back into electrical signals. This way, the message could be printed out.

In November 1963, Weitbrecht developed a special acoustic coupler. This was made for TTY devices. They found old teletypewriter machines from places like Western Union. Then, they connected these machines to Weitbrecht's new modems.

The First TTY Call

In 1964, Weitbrecht successfully used the device to make a long-distance call to Marsters. After a few tries, Weitbrecht's words appeared clearly: "Are you printing me now? Let's quit for now and gloat over the success."

Marsters, Weitbrecht, and engineer Andrew Saks then created a company. It was called The Applied Communications Corporation. They made the modems there. Marsters convinced deaf people to try the new device. Volunteers helped fix, deliver, and install donated teletypewriters in deaf homes.

He also visited hospitals and fire departments. He asked them to install the devices for emergency calls. His daughter, Jean Marsters, said her father was "the public speaker, the can-do man who wouldn't take no for an answer."

Overcoming Challenges

At first, phone companies owned all phone lines and phones. They did not want this new technology used on their lines. Marsters and other deaf advocates went to Washington, D.C. They worked hard to make TTY communication legal.

Four years later, in 1968, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) made a rule. They required AT&T to allow TTY devices. This was a huge step forward. It started a revolution in telecommunications for deaf people.

According to Harry G. Lang, a professor, this invention was "a technological declaration of independence for deaf people." Marsters was humble about his role. He said, "The glory is not mine. It was an effort of many."

The TTY's Lasting Impact

The number of TTY devices grew a lot. In 1966, there were only 18. Forty years later, there were 30,000. The Internet later caused a decline in TTY use after the 1990s.

At first, TTYs could only talk to other TTYs. But in the late 1960s, Marsters and Saks had an idea. Phone company operators could take TTY messages. They would then relay them by voice to hearing phones, and vice versa. This idea led to a similar service being required by the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. This service is still available across the country today.

While the Internet has largely replaced the TTY, emergency services still use it.