Communication has changed a lot. It used to be that the TTY was the main form of instant communication with people who were not right next to you, but that has completely changed. Now we have text messaging on cell phones, instant messaging on computers or Blackberries or iPhones, chatting with video webcams or talking on videophones or through video relay services. We have all kinds of options.

Do you ever use a TTY anymore? Not many people do. But there are a few reasons that you might want to keep it handy in an emergency.

In any kind of emergency in which you need to call 911 from your home, it can work in different ways, depending on how you make the call. If you call 911 on a regular land line TTY, then the call is automatically connected to the 911 emergency center in your area and the operator’s display screen shows your address and phone number, even if you don’t say or type anything on your end.

If you call 911 on an internet phone line (sometimes called "Voice over Internet Protocol" or VoIP) with your TTY, then the call is still automatically connected to the 911 emergency center, just like a landline TTY, but there is an important difference. The address that shows on the operator’s display screen is the address you gave to your internet service provider. So if you move, you need to be sure to let your internet service provider know about your new address, even if you just change apartments within the same complex, you still need to let them know the change of apartment number. Even if the change of address is temporary, like you go on vacation or go to stay with family for a month, for example. You need to let them know your new address or they will send emergency services to your old address and you don't want that.

If you call 911 from your cell phone, you will have to tell the operator your address because, obviously, a cell phone can be used anywhere. And although a lot of phones can be tracked by location, most 911 services are not set up to figure out your location that way. You will have to tell the operator your location.

If you call 911 through relay, that will work, of course, but communication will be slower since it has to go through a relay operator. Also, when you call through relay, you have to give your address so that the communications assistant can call the 911 emergency service center that serves your location. That's true whether you use traditional relay, video relay service (VRS), or internet protocol relay (IP). And again, just like with VoIP, when you register with a VRS or IP relay, you’ll give them your address, which makes things go a little more quickly if you use them for an emergency call. But remember to let them know immediately when your address changes.

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