Speechless communication

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DJN51

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Oct 26, 2009
377
Hunter 23.5 East Chicago In
My best friend and I were both diagnosed with throat cancer this week,both caught early,start rad and chemo next week,the conversation we had was if heaven forbid we loose voice box,are there any type of radio communication gear out there for this case.Mostly a safety issue as we are on Lake michigan.Solo sail mostly,just thought of how to contact CG in times of distress for myself or other boaters.Hopefully never comes to that.
 
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justsomeguy

justsomeguy

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Feb 20, 2011
8,062
Island Packet 35 Tucson, AZ/San Carlos, MX
I'm sorry to read this.
I'm sure you've heard of Stephen Hawking. It's a rather slow means of communication, but the technology is improving.
Once you've got your mate's attention, signing could work, and probably better than speech in a gale.
Good luck with the treatments.
 
kpgraci

kpgraci

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Jun 12, 2010
936
Oday 22 Orleans Marina, NOLA
I would say signing in general . As far as sailing goes a system of hand signals could be worked out that were more concise for common tasks. As far as getting your companion's attention a whistle or other signaling device could mean 'look at me'.

Hope all goes well with your treatments. I myself had thyroid cancer and as a result lost the use of 1/2 of my vocal cords. While I can still speak I cannot shout and this makes it impossible to communicate over any distance or in noisy conditions. For example, I had a non-sailing buddy out once and I was forward, something happened and I wanted him to release the main sheet - I could not yell loud enough to communicate my request, compounded with the confusion that he didn't know what a main sheet or a cam cleat was. I ended up having to go back and do it myself.

Ironically, I suppose, my illness is one reason I got into sailing...we're only here for a short time - enjoy it.

I admire your spirit - looking for ways to overcome rather than being overcome. Keep us posted.
 
shnool

shnool

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Aug 10, 2012
556
WD Schock Wavelength 24 Wallenpaupack
Attention hand claps? Hand signing, perhaps a shorthand version you work out? Honestly, you MIGHT be better of working out hand signals anyway. Can't tell you how many times sailing with a newbie they don't understand what I am asking. I color coded all my lines (and there are lots of them on this boat), so I can say pull green and white, or release orange and white. In a pinch it works, but boy I'd love something faster to get the point across.

Let's just hope you aren't required to live by that alone. Best of luck to you both either way.
 
DannyS

DannyS

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May 27, 2004
933
Beneteau 393 Bayfield, Wi
This is a great question and one I've thought about because my brother is deaf and I too have wondered if there was any other means of radio communication if out of cell phone/texting range. Obviously, hand signals don't work when trying to hail the coast guard on the radio.
 
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LloydB

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Jan 15, 2006
927
Macgregor 22 Silverton
For text by radio try going to(aprs.org/aprs-messaging.html)
For doing familiar tasks with others try a whistle and use hand signals
To learn a voiceless conversation in a new language find a teenager with a cellphone
Carry a notebook, but hope you don't need any of this stuff permanently. fair winds
 
tkanzler

tkanzler

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Sep 5, 2007
689
MacGregor 26X Rochester
If voice communication with the USCG becomes an issue, you'd obviously want a VHF with DSC and some sort of GPS link. I'm not up on the latest technology, but I just saw a handheld with GPS capability (!).

As far as hand signals go, my son had a baseball coach who knew sign language, which he incorporated into his signs. The kids couldn't tell what he was signing because the gestures were too small and too fast (for the distance), unlike the large gestures used in 'normal' baseball signs. The point being, if you use hand signals, they should be simple enough, and obvious enough, that there won't be confusion, especially in low light, poor weather, and/or when fighting conditions. One hand only, of course (one for the work, one for you).

For in-between things, like routine radio calls, I've got nothing.
 
Doc_holiday

Doc_holiday

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Nov 19, 2011
1,489
MacGregor 26S Hampton, VA
Seems to me the iPhones have TTY capability but I am not sure if it needs any additional equipment.
 
caguy

caguy

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Sep 22, 2006
4,004
Catalina, Luger C-27, Adventure 30 Marina del Rey
tkanzler said:
If voice communication with the USCG becomes an issue, you'd obviously want a VHF with DSC and some sort of GPS link. I'm not up on the latest technology, but I just saw a handheld with GPS capability (!)
Click to expand
I second tkanzler suggestion. I have my VHS hooked up to the GPS and it will send out a distress signal to the CG along with my location with just one push of the DSC button. There was an article last year about this safety feature I was surprised at just how many boaters are not hooked up. I've listened to boaters in trouble call the CG and trying to give their location while in a state of panic. I believe that when you register your mmsi number you can make comments about your special needs, whereby they can ask questions and you respond with 1 click yes and 2 no. They always want to know if you are in immediate danger and or taking on water.
I saw your electric powered motor on your profile album, sweet. Can you motor sail for 4-5 hours with that? What speeds can you get out of that?
 
neilmcc

neilmcc

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Aug 27, 2011
90
Hunter 336 Scotland
DSC looks like the answer

For emergencies a DSC radio linked to a GPS or with one built in will allow you to send your position and the nature of your distress without speaking.
It can also be used for general communication in non-emergencies if the other boat also has DSC.
Hopefully you will both be okay and it won't be a problem.
All the best
 
rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,943
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
kpgraci said:
.... I myself had thyroid cancer ...
Click to expand

Me too, but I got lucky and my vocal cords are just fine. I understand your fears. As the anesthesia was being administered I wondered if I'd ever be able to speak again.

As to your specific question. I teach at a small college and I had a deaf student years ago. She had a computer that she could type into and it would speak for her. It was clunky but it worked. That was almost 8 years ago so I'm guessing the bugs have been worked out. I'd suggest contacting an organization for the deaf and ask what types of support technologies exist today. I'm guessing some app for the iPad is available.
 
JVB

JVB

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Jan 26, 2006
270
Schock Wavelength 24 Lake Murray, SC
Start with the "Speak it! Text to Speech" application for iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone for $2.
itunes.apple.com/us/app/speak-it!-text-to-speech/id308629295?mt=8 See a video demo of this software at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB_l5lwQQvU

Also Google "text to speech devices for communication" or "text to speech software for pda". It appears that there are plenty of ways to get speech out of a small portable box that you type sentences into.

Then find an electronics techie who can make an impedance matcher to connect the headphone output of your iPhone to the microphone input of a VHF with a loud hailer and you will be able to shout "Starboard" to the guy on collision course with you or communicate effectively over the radio.
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|344|2028693|2028951&id=747044
 
caguy

caguy

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Sep 22, 2006
4,004
Catalina, Luger C-27, Adventure 30 Marina del Rey
Thanks JVB, I have a couple of selective mute students I'll share this with.
 
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