THIS WEEK IN 1974: Electronics bring world nearer Barry
A young Fareham man, paralysed after a road accident in 1970, was one of the first people in the south of England to receive an electronic device for making and receiving telephone calls.
Barry Hazley, 22, could only move his head and shoulders and was one of about 300,000 disabled people who would benefit from the device, said the manufacturers.
Barry said: ‘I touch a sensitive pad which gives me the telephone operator and I ask her to get me the number I want.’
An in-built speaker and microphone system allowed him to make calls without having to leave his bed.
The phone equipment was part of a ‘system seven’ electronic device on which he could operate the radio, television, door, heating, lights and an alarm.