The Terrible TAD and Voice Mail Machinations
Poor Dr. Valdemar Poulsen -- the Danish telephone engineer and inventor of the telegraphone -- an 1898 elaborate apparatus for magnetic sound recording and reproduction for recording telephone conversations – little did he know the havoc he would cause. Elaborate technology at the time, although basically simple in use, it recorded on a wire the varying magnetic fields produced by sound. The magnetic wire could then be used to play back the sound. As in today’s technology, every new technological toy is overwhelmingly accepted by the public. Dr. Poulsen had little trouble in making his small fortune from its numerous sales.Leave it to the Japanese: Along waltzes Dr. Kazuo Hashimoto in 1960 for his company, Phonetel, creating a smaller home version of the telegraphone, calling it the Ansaphone, a juxtaposition of Answer + Phone. Again, the public flocked to retail outlets to purchase this then-modernized useless toy, mostly out of sheer, morbid curiosity, as today, to allow the receiver of calls to listen to who was calling when (s)he was not present in the home or office. Disaster was approaching: Telemarketers, bill collectors, and politicians, within a few years, wallowed in delight in taking advantage of the Ansaphone Along struts Casio Communications in 1980: It introduced its smaller, lightweight, and more convenient model of what it labeled the TAD (Telephone Answering Device), requiring only a small cassette tape to record, play, and erase incoming messages. The mini-tape could be used indefinitely until it wore out, simply requiring the installation of a new tape. Contrary to the bulkiness and weight of previous machines weighing over 12 pounds, this one boasted a weight of only 3 pounds. As a technological innovated plaything, Casio had few problems in its marketing. However, within a few years, the general public rapidly became disenchanted with the TAD via its required perpetual cleaning, jammed tapes, and failure of performance after daily use. In steps a U.S. Marine: Sensing the downward spiraling of the public’s enthusiasm and interest in the TAD with its perpetual, aggravating onslaught of telemarketers, bill collectors, and politicians harassing people. Gordon Matthews began perfecting his new substitute-TAD innovation, known today as Voice Mail, an inspiration which began years earlier when he witnessed one of his fellow aviators being killed in a mid-air collision. Matthews was convinced the accident was caused when the pilot had to take his hands of the flight controls to adjust his radio frequency. When Matthews retired from the Marines, he went to work for IBM to develop a voice-controlled military cockpit. Twenty years later, Voice Mail for the lucrative phone-world conglomerates was born.
| Matthews’ poignant comment regarding the prolific misuse of the Voice Mail: “We didn’t invent this technology to have other uncaring solicitors annoy people, but to give these people some comfort in their lives.” His dream would not be fulfilled until AT&T and other despicable phone segue-conglomerates, years later, initiated a “blocked-call” and Caller I.D systems. I remain appalled at the perpetual complaining of the abundant TAD and Voice Mail owners incessantly whining about the harassing solicitors and uncaring business personnel who perpetually fail to imitate most American businesses and institutions which purposely refuse to employ either TADs or Voice Mail in their phone systems.“Do not leave a message. Messages cannot be retrieved” – a recording of Citrus Hills Medical Center, Citrus Hills, Florida, played quite clearly during their 1.5 hour lunch time and non-business hours. The implied message is poignant: “Why should it be incumbent upon us to return your call? How important is your call? If it’s an emergency, call 911. If it is not an emergency, call back during business hours – not our lunch time. It is not incumbent upon us to grant you the convenience and luxury of not repeating the simple, brief process to speed or manually dial the 7-10 digit number to call back, which will only effect the gruesome game of Phone Tag.” Comparably, Citrus County School Board, Citrus Memorial Hospital, and Citrus Urology ( all of Inverness, Florida), as with numerous others, do not activate any absurd, useless TAD or Voice-mail, both of which prohibit the caller from leaving messages. Their recordings state quite succinctly what their designated business hours are and to kindly call during those hours. Such places are to be applauded.
Simple solution to the useless, obnoxious TAD and Voice Mail debacles: Disconnect the TAD or cancel the voice-mail option. Install simple Caller ID only. Mute the ringer or adjust it to its lowest volume. If the caller’s ID reads, “Unknown,” “Blocked,” or if it’s an unrecognizable number, don’t answer it. Inform business contacts that all communication must be in the written form (for documentation purposes) either via USPS or e-mail. They are to avoid the complacent convenience of utilizing the phone, leading only to “He-said-she-said” scenarios or the gruesome “Phone-tag” game. Additionally, the query should be proposed to business personnel: “Did your customer/patient make a request in writing? Personal and professional courtesy dictate that you, the business, also respond in writing.” (e.g.-Citrus Dental of Inverness, FL informing patients via e-mail of the patient’s appointment and employing a website that allows patients' other commnications.) "I never intended my invention to become a nightmare" -- Alexander G. Bell No phone on the market comes with any adhered message: “When I ring, you must answer me.” WJK-Nov., 2009 . |
