IMPROVED METHOD OF SECURE VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-04072R000100050022-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 6, 2001
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: January 24, 1968
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Relepse 2001/09/01 :78-04072R00 0050022-3
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SUGGESTION AWARDS COMMITTEE SPECIAL PANEL OF THE
CLANDESTINE SERVICES MEETING, 24 January 1968
SUGGESTION NO. 67-305: dated 1 Ma 1967
Electronics Engineer
Directorate of Science and Technology/OSP
SUBJECT: Improved Method of Secure Verbal
Communications
A. Summary of Suggestion
The suggester proposed the use of a new technique called "Cued
Speech" devised by Dr. Orin Cornett of Gai.laudet College. It is a
simple and practical means of insuring private conversation in
sensitive areas. He said that whereas sign language and lip reading
are difficult skills to acquire, cued speech is not. It has been learned
by people in less than one day and fluency can be achieved with from
10 to 30 hours of instruction.
1. Foreign Intelligence Staff and Technical Services Division
concluded that the suggester apparently misunderstood the Cued
Speech System. It would not actually help against audio penetration.
In simplest terms, Cued Speech is a system of talking and using a
small number of finger and hand signs to help deaf people who are
trying to read your lips. The signs help them distinguish between
certain vowels and consonants which may look similar on the lips.
2. During use of the system the talker still talks, however,
and his voice, while not heard by his deaf partners, would still
be picked up by the microphones. The claim that the system can
be learned in 10 to 30 hours means only that a normal speaker can
learn to speak and use the signs to help deaf listeners in 10 to 30
hours. It does not mean that a person can learn to read lips with
the help of Cued Speech in this short a time. That would take much
longer. For our staff overseas to use Cued Speech, we would all
learn to read lips and use Cued Speech with each other.
Approved For Release 2001/09/01 CIA;,R,J~Z04 IbO (rf5022-3
 Approved For Release 2001/09/01 Z6AQI 78-04072R00W0050022-3
C. Special Panel Recommendation
Decline with Letter of Thanks.
D. Decision of Chairman, Suggestion Awards Committee
t''r Approved
Disapproved / jG9 b Date
ttobert b. Wattles
Chairman
Suggestion Awards Committee
Approved For Release 2001/09/01 : CIA-RDP78-04072R000100050022-3