old technology meets new

We're always crowing about new media and new technology.

After all, they've made KnitNet possible.

I was reminded today, however, that people using old technology can work wonders.

The phone rang and the screen said "Bell Relay". I couldn't imagine what that meant.

As it turns out, a KnitNet reader who is deaf wanted to ask me a question. She types into a device and the Bell operator -- Bell Relay -- reads what she says. I responded verbally and the Bell operator types what I said back to the reader.

After I finished each time, I had to say "go ahead" to signal that it was the reader's turn.

It was a very interesting experience, all around, for someone who lives, for the most part, in a world of pixels.