FCC Information on TRS/VRS
|
Apple rolled out a lot of new stuff the other day.
The iPhone and iPad have software on it that keeps those units running. It is called “iOS”. OS means “operating system.” The current version is iOS 5 and the one that Apple rolled out is iOS 6. iOS 6 will not be available until the fall. Your iPhone or iPad will automatically upgrade to iOS 6 when it is ready.
What does iOS 6 have for video communication? Not much. The only thing they improved was allowing FaceTime to run under a cellular environment (3G, 4G). Right now, before iOS 6 you can use FaceTime only if you have WiFi coverage. With iOS 6, you will be able to use FaceTime in WiFi AND 3G OR 4G environments.
FaceTime is only for point to point calls with others who have Apple mobile units, not for relay calls.
This is the only thing Apple had for us deaf and hard of hearing people for video communication.
Dr. Z cares about your communication access.
Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development and Outreach.
When making a VRS call, you want to be sure the call is handled smoothly and in a professional manner, and at the same time you remain in full control of the call.
First, you want the interpreter to acknowledge getting the phone number you want to call with a SMILE!
Second, the interpreter will respect your request to announce (to explain that the caller is a deaf hard of hearing person and that he/she is using sign language to communicate) or not to announce the call
Third, the interpreter is able to follow your signing and will ask you to clarify if he/she doesn’t understand you
Fourth, if the bank or credit card company asks for your credit card number, you just need to press the numbers on the keypad without having to spell it out to the interpreter
Fifth, after completing a call, you want to call someone, you can ask the interpreter to look at your contacts list and you can ask them to “call Mom” or whoever is on the list, without having to look up the number yourself.
Finally, after concluding the call session, the interpreter signs off with a smile!
Who has all those benefits? ZVRS has them all! Try us, you will like us! How? Call to make a relay call at 888-888-1116 and you will love us!
Dr. Z cares about your communication access.
Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development and Outreach.
Dr. Z has been using his iPad for close to a year. His iPad is a 16gb iPad2 model. He has about 75 apps loaded on the iPad but uses mostly about 20 most of the time.
In the next few weeks, Dr. Z will explain each of the most popular apps he uses on his iPad.
Since he does not have 3G capability on his iPad, Dr. Z uses Sprint mifi to get wifi access when he is not near a wifi hotspot. Dr. Z learned recently that T-Mobile has a nice portable wifi hotspot that costs as little as $10 a month if you do not have 3G capability on your iPad. Bear in mind $10 buys you 100mb of memory which is easily used up if you use video. So you should use video on your iPad only in a wifi environment. If your iPad has 3G capabiliuty, AT and T and Verizon offer 3G packages but each carries a monthly charge if you use it.
Remember if you want to use video on your iPad, its usually best in a wifi environment because its bandwidth (pipe) is much larger.
Look for more reviews of iPad apps in the next few weeks from Dr. Z!
Dr. Z cares about your communication access.
Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development and Outreach.
This is what Z4 looks like on an iPad!
The left is the phone book. The center is the dial pad.
To dial, there are 2 ways–you can dial using the phone book by touching on the name of the person you want to dial. Another screen will appear with the phone number in the box. Touch the box where the phone number is and then it will dial the call.
The other way is to use the keypad to dial the number and then click the green box to dial out.
That’s all!!!
Dr. Z cares about your communication access.
Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development and Outreach.
Dr. Z has traveled a lot in recent weeks.
He has started to fall in love with the iPad!
Using ZVRS’ Z4 on the iPad amounts to a perfect videophone.
It works beautifully–go to this link to download Z4. If you do not have a profile, you need to create a profile and you will get a new phone number immediately. And then download Z4 from the Apple App Store.
When you launch Z4 on your iPad, you will see a keypad. Just press the phone number on the keypad and off you go! To make a VRS call, just dial 888-888-1116 on the keypad and a smiling ZVRS interpreter will be ready to facilitate the call for you.
Remember, you need a good wifi connection to do a video call. Do a Speedtest before you make a call outside your home.
Try Z4, You will love IT!
Dr. Z cares about your communication access.
Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development and Outreach.
People have all kinds of videophones.
If you have a VP-200 or nTouch VP, you can still call ZVRS!
If you have a P3, you can still call ZVRS!
How?
Try dialing 888-888-1116 when you want to make a VRS call–you will meet a ZVRS interpreter!
You will see…and love the difference.
Come on–try us, you will like ZVRS!
Remember-888-888-1116 is the way to go.
Dr. Z cares about your communication access.
Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development and Outreach.
VRSCA (Video Relay Services Consumer Association) is a communication forum for Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing and hearing persons who use Video Relay Services (VRS). It is Dr. Z’s understanding they are funded by Sorenson. They recently provided some survey information to the FCC that Dr. Z found interesting and is sharing with you all in this post. There were 900 responses to the survey which was done in March, 2012. Some of the info below is copied verbatim from the survey.
On the question of where one uses VRS:
- 95% use VRS in their home.
- 19% use VRS in their office.
- 13% responded “Somewhere else” – which includes use of VRS on mobile devices, at a friend or a family member’s home, or while traveling.
- 5% use VRS at school.
On the question as to how often one uses VRS:
- 39% use VRS more than 10 times per week.
- 18% use VRS at least 10 times per week.
- 28% use VRS at least 5 times per week.
- 9% use VRS once per week.
On the question of how often one makes point-to-point calls (deaf to deaf):
- 41% make deaf-to-deaf calls more than 10 times a week.
- 16% make deaf-to-deaf calls at least 10 times a week.
- 28% make deaf-to-deaf calls at least 5 times a week.
- 9% make deaf-to-deaf calls at least once a week.
- 3% make deaf-to-deaf calls less than once a week.
On the question of what is the most important feature of making a VRS call:
- 48% of respondents chose quality of interpreting as the most important feature.
- 17% responded that the features and equipment were the most important features.
- 17% responded that speed of answer was the most important feature.
- 12% responded that quality of the video was the most important feature.
When asked what problems one experiences when making VRS calls:
- 40% of respondents chose long hold times to get an interpreter.
- 39% of respondents chose hearing people do not understand what VRS is.
- 30% of respondents chose poor video quality.
- 30% of respondents chose poor quality of interpreting.
- 18% of respondents chose something else.
On the question of how important outreach and education is to consumers:
- 69% responded that the outreach function was extremely important.
- 21% responded that it is somewhat important.
- 7% responded that it is neither important nor unimportant.
- 3% responded that it is either less important or not important at all.
On the question of who provides the most useful information about VRS:
- 67% of respondents get VRS information from VRS providers.
- 47% of respondents get VRS information from friends.
- 30% of respondents get VRS information from VRSCA.
- 18% of respondents get VRS information from the FCC.
You can get a copy of the survey from the FCC website at this link: VRSCA Survey Info on FCC Website
Dr. Z wants to thank VRSCA for doing the survey and sharing this with the FCC.
Dr. Z cares about your communication access.
Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development and Outreach.
Dr. Z does not use a remote control to make phone calls. 99 percent of the people in the world do not use remote controls to make phone calls. Only deaf people in the United States use remote controls to make phone calls if they use a Sorenson device (VP-200 or nTouch VP.)
Why use a remote control? To avoid walking, that means you gain weight and lose some exercise?
What if your dogs eat your remote control? How would you be able to make a call? Why do dogs eat remote controls? Well, when people watch TV, they tend to have snacks such as potato chips and popcorn. And the oils and flavoring from those snacks get carried over to the remote control, making it very appealing and tasty to those cute dogs. Then before you know it, it looks like this picture on the right.
What if a phone call comes in and you need to answer it, and one of your kids misplaced your remote control? Result? A missed call?
What if your remote control is hidden under a sofa cushion and there is an emergency and you can’t make a 911 call? *
Here is a quote from a press release by a remote control replacement outfit:
“Sofa cushions aren’t the only things that eat the remote controls that operate televisions and other appliances. The eternal search for the missing remote often ends in the mouth of the family dog.”
“Dogs are devouring remote controls,” says a press release from Charlie Waters, customer service director for MrRemoteControls.com.
“My dog ate the remote” is second only to “somebody lost it” as the most common reason given by customers ordering replacements, he says. They say dogs bury remotes or chew them beyond recognition.
“Similar in size and shape to their favorite bone, a remote control has the added flavor of [their] master’s scent, making it an irresistible treat,” the release speculates.”
From the same source, here are some excuses people make about their remote controls:
- My husband lost it. My wife lost it. My kids lost it. Note: We never hear “I lost it.”
- We moved but the remote didn’t.
- My husband spilled beer, soda, coffee, water or all of the above on the remote.
I am sure there are other stories or situations you have about remote controls.
Why is Dr. Z bringing this up? Simply to point out the fact that there are other videophones such as the Z20 which do not need a remote control. Also the Z4 on your PC or Mac doesn’t need a remote control. The Z4 mobile on your iPhone and iPad do not need remote controls either. They all have keypads that are part of the device. (And you lose some weight in the process.)
Dr. Z cares about your communication access.
Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development and Outreach.
* The Sorenson nTouch VP has a button for situations like this to make VRS calls (not point-to-point) without a remote.
Dr. Z is deaf…in addition to being associated with ZVRS, he is also a consumer of VRS.
He continues to travel all over the country and still is hearing some unpleasant stories from consumers that the practices of a certain provider is creating issues for deaf and hard of hearing consumers.
First things first-
Let’s look at the definition of harassment from Webster’s dictionary: (1) to annoy persistently (2) : to create an unpleasant or hostile situation for especially by uninvited and unwelcome verbal or physical conduct
Let’s look at definition of sell from Webster’s dictionary: to persuade or influence to a course of action or to the acceptance of something
Let’s look at the practices of that certain provider as related to Dr. Z in person at town hall meetings:
- the provider’s trainer shows up unannounced at people’s homes, especially during dinnertime (is this selling or harassment, based on the definitions above?)
- the provider’s trainer makes 10-15 phone calls to the consumer urging them to port to them (is this selling or harassment, based on the definition above?)
- the provider’s trainer rings the consumer’s doorbell at late at night asking if they would port (is this selling or harassment, based on the definitions above?)
- the provider’s trainer makes untruthful statements about early termination fees and commitment periods, saying if they port to them, they can’t port back after 2 years (is this selling or harassment, based on the definitions above?)
The list goes on and on. The FCC has some examples of the above submitted to the in the form of complaints.
Is that provider still listening? “Enough is enough.” The executives of that company have categorically denied such actions–are they aware that their people on the front lines are perpetuating such behavior? With 80 percent of the market, and resorting to such behavior, leads Dr. Z to wonder if there are some issues requiring them to meet their numbers. I am sure their investors who work in the corporate world would not condone such behavior in the companies they invest in.
Dr. Z cares about the quality of life of deaf and hard of hearing people everywhere and not to use their videophones in “fear.”
Dr. Z cares about your communication access.
Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development and Outreach.
Dr. Z has been traveling for the past 3 weeks–in and out of hotels, airports, restaurants and other places.
Here is his report card on wifi access in public places. He has found a way to quickly determine if wifi via video would work well in a place he is in. Video requires higher bandwidth than a simple browsing session with google and reading articles on the web. To be safe, a good bandwidth number for video would be at least 1 mbps download and .75 mbps upload for a wifi connection.
How do you know if it will be good?
Download an app called Speedtest for your Apple or Android mobile device or point your browser to http://www.speedtest.net. There will be a button on it saying “Begin your Test”–click it and it will run for a minute before some numbers come up. If you see the numbers above 1.0 mbps for download and .75 for upload, there is a good chance you can do video using wifi on the site where you did your testing. Anything lower, your connection may not work very well–either it will be blurry or get disconnected.
Airports are usually good…with an app called “Boingo” which is not free, I have been able to talk over video pretty good.
Hotels are hard to predict. Some hotels are better than others. Usually better during daytime than evenings. If the hotel is busy during daytime, then the wifi won’t be as good.
McDonalds are usually not good for wifi–their bandwidth requirements for video are too low. I find Starbucks or Barnes and Noble better for wifi.
In planes, such as Delta or Southwest–the wifi is usually too low for effective video communication. You can try but no guarantees here.
Hope this helps you folks.
Happy traveling from Dr. Z!
Dr. Z cares about your communication access.
Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development and Outreach.
|
|
Recent Comments