A: Even though they may have TTYs, faxes, and real-time-chat programs on their computers, Deaf people are intensely visual. They crave face-to-face contact–not through a machine. (And videophones aren’t yet a practical reality for most of us.) For Deaf people, opportunities for barrier-free social intermingling are relatively rare. When they go to conferences, movies, plays, or festivals, they often crowd the lobbies and socialize. At expos, they often stand around in the aisles, much to the annoyance of the exhibitors. What are they doing? Catching each other up with their lives, discussing important issues or problems, or just yakking. They’re doing the social things they can’t do online.