Paul Taylor (engineer)
Encyclopedia
Paul Taylor is an American
engineer, a pioneer in development of telecommunications devices for the deaf (also known as TTYs). He also enjoys a kind of celebrity status because of his central role in the award-winning documentary Hear and Now
. The film by daughter Irene Taylor Brodsky
chronicles the before and after experiences of her parents, Paul and Sally Taylor, both of whom underwent cochlear implant surgeries in their mid-60s after a lifetime of deafness.
in 1962. He was awarded a master’s degree in operational research at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
and Monsanto
in St. Louis, Missouri. During the late 1960s, he combined Western Union teletypewriters
with modems to create the first telecommunications devices for the deaf, known as TDDs or TTYs (teletypewriter). He distributed these early, non-portable devices to the homes of many in the Deaf community in St. Louis. He worked with others to establish a local telephone wake-up service. In the early 1970s, he created the nation’s first local telephone relay system for the deaf in the early 1970s.
In 1975, Taylor was named chair of the Engineering Support Team at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf
(NTID) at the Rochester Institute of Technology
(RIT) in New York. He would remain at NTID/RIT for the next 30 years. When he retired, he had become a professor of computer technology.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he worked with others in New York to create one of the nation’s first statewide relay services. This service was funded by long distance telephone companies.
Taylor helped write regulations for the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) in the process of implementing statewide telephone relay systems which were required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
(ADA).
. When the deaf couple were in their mid-60s, they decided to undergo cochlear implant
surgery which could enable each to hear sounds for the first time; and their filmmaker daughter, Irene Taylor Brodsky
, chronicled their experiences. Hear and Now was recognized with awards at the Heartland and Sundance Film Festivals in 2007; and the work was honored with a Peabody Award in 2008.
Writing in Variety, Peter Deburge assessed the film as "more "Oprah" than "Frontline," which suggests that those who see the film learn about a man and a father and a husband who also happens to have done something noteworthy in his working career as an engineer.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
engineer, a pioneer in development of telecommunications devices for the deaf (also known as TTYs). He also enjoys a kind of celebrity status because of his central role in the award-winning documentary Hear and Now
Hear and Now
Hear and Now is a 2007 documentary film by Irene Taylor Brodsky, winning awards in 2007 at the Sundance Film Festival and the Heartland Film Festival; and garnering a Peabody Award in 2008.-Synopsis:...
. The film by daughter Irene Taylor Brodsky
Irene Taylor Brodsky
Irene Taylor Brodsky is an American documentary film maker. In her several projects, hers was the job of director, producer, writer, cinematographer and editor.-Background:...
chronicles the before and after experiences of her parents, Paul and Sally Taylor, both of whom underwent cochlear implant surgeries in their mid-60s after a lifetime of deafness.
Education
Taylor earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at Georgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
in 1962. He was awarded a master’s degree in operational research at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Career
Taylor worked for 12 years in various engineering positions with McDonnell DouglasMcDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas was a major American aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor, producing a number of famous commercial and military aircraft. It formed from a merger of McDonnell Aircraft and Douglas Aircraft in 1967. McDonnell Douglas was based at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport...
and Monsanto
Monsanto
The Monsanto Company is a US-based multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation. It is the world's leading producer of the herbicide glyphosate, marketed in the "Roundup" brand of herbicides, and in other brands...
in St. Louis, Missouri. During the late 1960s, he combined Western Union teletypewriters
Teleprinter
A teleprinter is a electromechanical typewriter that can be used to communicate typed messages from point to point and point to multipoint over a variety of communication channels that range from a simple electrical connection, such as a pair of wires, to the use of radio and microwave as the...
with modems to create the first telecommunications devices for the deaf, known as TDDs or TTYs (teletypewriter). He distributed these early, non-portable devices to the homes of many in the Deaf community in St. Louis. He worked with others to establish a local telephone wake-up service. In the early 1970s, he created the nation’s first local telephone relay system for the deaf in the early 1970s.
In 1975, Taylor was named chair of the Engineering Support Team at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf
National Technical Institute for the Deaf
The National Technical Institute for the Deaf is the first and largest technological college in the world for students who are deaf or hard of hearing...
(NTID) at the Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
The Rochester Institute of Technology is a private university, located within the town of Henrietta in metropolitan Rochester, New York, United States...
(RIT) in New York. He would remain at NTID/RIT for the next 30 years. When he retired, he had become a professor of computer technology.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he worked with others in New York to create one of the nation’s first statewide relay services. This service was funded by long distance telephone companies.
Taylor helped write regulations for the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) in the process of implementing statewide telephone relay systems which were required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a law that was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1990. It was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H. W. Bush, and later amended with changes effective January 1, 2009....
(ADA).
Hear and Now
In 2007, Paul and Sally Taylor were the subjects of an award-winning documentary film, Hear and NowHear and Now
Hear and Now is a 2007 documentary film by Irene Taylor Brodsky, winning awards in 2007 at the Sundance Film Festival and the Heartland Film Festival; and garnering a Peabody Award in 2008.-Synopsis:...
. When the deaf couple were in their mid-60s, they decided to undergo cochlear implant
Cochlear implant
A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted electronic device that provides a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing...
surgery which could enable each to hear sounds for the first time; and their filmmaker daughter, Irene Taylor Brodsky
Irene Taylor Brodsky
Irene Taylor Brodsky is an American documentary film maker. In her several projects, hers was the job of director, producer, writer, cinematographer and editor.-Background:...
, chronicled their experiences. Hear and Now was recognized with awards at the Heartland and Sundance Film Festivals in 2007; and the work was honored with a Peabody Award in 2008.
Writing in Variety, Peter Deburge assessed the film as "more "Oprah" than "Frontline," which suggests that those who see the film learn about a man and a father and a husband who also happens to have done something noteworthy in his working career as an engineer.
External links
- Hear and Now, Official website
- HBO documentary films, Hear and Now