Robert Weitbrecht
Encyclopedia
Robert Haig Weitbrecht was born in Orange, California
in 1920. He was born deaf and his education was mainstream for the most part with the exception of acquiring some signing and lip-reading skills from a deaf school early on. He went on to earn a B.S. in Astronomy from the University of California, Berkeley
in 1942 and finished his formal education with a M.S. in Astronomy from the University of Chicago
in 1957. The title of doctor was bestowed on Robert Weitbrect in 1974 by Gallaudet University
. Weitbrecht was a contributing engineer to the Manhattan Project
.
Even in his high school days, Weitbrecht was interested in amateur radio and used radiotelegraph to communicate with fellow radio operators around the country. In 1964, this love for communication came together with the need to interact with a colleague who could not operate an amateur radio. To solve this problem, Weitbrecht created a device that used the public telephone system to achieve communication: the teletypewriter
(TTY). After being approached by James C. Marsters
, Weitbrecht came up with a revised design for the acoustic coupler
(now called a modem
), which used echo
suppression. In 1964, Marsters and Weitbrecht adapted used teletypewriter equipment, and Weitbrecht made the first successful teletypewriter phone call from one deaf person to another. It took several tries, until Weitbrecht's words appeared clearly: "Are you printing me now? Let's quit for now and gloat over the success." Today, this type of device is known as a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf
.
Dr. Weitbrecht earned a pilot's license in 1967.
Dr. Weitbrecht died after being involved in an automobile accident in 1983.
Orange, California
Southern California is well-known for year-round pleasant weather: - On average, the warmest month is August. - The highest recorded temperature was in 1985. - On average, the coolest month is December. - The lowest recorded temperature was in 1950...
in 1920. He was born deaf and his education was mainstream for the most part with the exception of acquiring some signing and lip-reading skills from a deaf school early on. He went on to earn a B.S. in Astronomy from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in 1942 and finished his formal education with a M.S. in Astronomy from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
in 1957. The title of doctor was bestowed on Robert Weitbrect in 1974 by Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University is a federally-chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, located in the District of Columbia, U.S...
. Weitbrecht was a contributing engineer to the Manhattan Project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
.
Inventions
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...
(TTY). After being approached by James C. Marsters
James C. Marsters
James Carlyle Marsters was a deaf orthodontist in Pasadena, California who in 1964 helped invent the first teletypewriter device capable of being used with telephone lines. The device made communication by telephone possible for the deaf...
, Weitbrecht came up with a revised design for the acoustic coupler
Acoustic coupler
In telecommunications, the term acoustic coupler has the following meanings:# An interface device for coupling electrical signals by acoustical means—usually into and out of a telephone instrument....
(now called a modem
Modem
A modem is a device that modulates an analog carrier signal to encode digital information, and also demodulates such a carrier signal to decode the transmitted information. The goal is to produce a signal that can be transmitted easily and decoded to reproduce the original digital data...
), which used echo
Echo (phenomenon)
In audio signal processing and acoustics, an echo is a reflection of sound, arriving at the listener some time after the direct sound. Typical examples are the echo produced by the bottom of a well, by a building, or by the walls of an enclosed room and an empty room. A true echo is a single...
suppression. In 1964, Marsters and Weitbrecht adapted used teletypewriter equipment, and Weitbrecht made the first successful teletypewriter phone call from one deaf person to another. It took several tries, until Weitbrecht's words appeared clearly: "Are you printing me now? Let's quit for now and gloat over the success." Today, this type of device is known as a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf
Telecommunications device for the deaf
A telecommunications device for the deaf is a teleprinter, an electronic device for text communication over a telephone line, that is designed for use by persons with hearing or speech difficulties...
.
Dr. Weitbrecht earned a pilot's license in 1967.
Dr. Weitbrecht died after being involved in an automobile accident in 1983.
External links
- "A Phone Of Our Own" -- a history of Weitbrecht's innovations with developing a modern TTY system from the Gallaudet UniversityGallaudet UniversityGallaudet University is a federally-chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, located in the District of Columbia, U.S...
website - weitbrecht.com