Category Archives: Zinfo

Have a Hearing Relative or Friend Who Can Sign? No Problem! Z5H is Here!

z5h

Know what? One of the most common requests from our customers is the ability to chat with their hearing friends and relatives using Z5 Mobile or Z5 Desktop. It is a common request from schools and universities where there are many hearing people who can sign.

Z5H allows a deaf person to call a hearing person directly without going through a video interpreter. The deaf person does not have to do anything. The hearing person has to download Z5H using this link. When they download and register which is a simple process–communication takes place!

By the way, if you need video communication (VP or VRS), why not try Z5, you will like it! Click here to get it! (See if you qualify to get a FREE tablet with a stand!)

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development

Purple Fined $12 Million by the FCC–That’s Not Good News for the TRS/VRS Industry!

fcc logo

Today, the FCC made an announcement that it plans to fine Purple $12 million for some practices that did not comply with their rules. The text of the FCC announcement can be seen through this link.

The more waste, fraud, and abuse that takes place, the more rules and actions the FCC will impose. This is a threat to the TRS/VRS industry. This is why the FCC is looking into things like the neutral platform where it will have more control and oversight over the VRS industry. Of course, there are some players like ZVRS who do their best to be as ethical as possible.

Needless to say, this is an unfortunate development.

UPDATE: Dr. Z has received info that this may be misleading because it was not a VRS matter but a TRS matter. However, it needs to be made clear that TRS and VRS are funded from the same pool of money that the FCC receives from telecommunications providers. Having said that, any form of irregularity does impact the fund and as a result affects the oversight of TRS and VRS.

By the way, if you need video communication (VP or VRS), why not try Z5, you will like it! Click here to get it! (See if you qualify to get a FREE tablet with a stand!)

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development

Apps for iPhone/iPad–Are the Apple Apps the Best? Maybe?

appstore

Some people seem to think they’re stuck with the default Apple apps on their iPhone or iPads. Business Insider (a news website) has a listing of alternate apps that do a better job than the Apple apps. Dr. Z uses a few of these, such as Fantastical 2 (calendar) and Dark Sky (weather). Some of the apps are free and some are paid apps.

Here’s the link to the Business Insider post. (link)

Enjoy!

So easy so simple!

By the way, if you need video communication (VP or VRS), why not try Z5, you will like it! Click here to get it! (See if you qualify to get a FREE tablet with a stand!)

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development

A Good Web Resource for iPhone and iPad! iMore!

imore

Dr. Z has websites he checks from time to time in order to be on top of things. One of them is iMore. iMore focuses on the iPhone and iPad and is Apple oriented.

While it covers apps, it also has other information and has a store where good deals can pop up from time to time.

For MORE info, here’s the link to iMore.

So easy so simple!

By the way, if you need video communication (VP or VRS), why not try Z5, you will like it! Click here to get it! (See if you qualify to get a FREE tablet with a stand!)

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development

A Great Case for Your iPhone (Perfect for Z5 Mobile Video)

zerochroma

Dr. Z has been using a great case for his iPhone and it works splendidly when used as a stand for video communication using Z5 Mobile.

He loved it so much that he got one for his wife. He learned about this case from Joel Barish, who runs Deaf Nation and travels very extensively. Thank you Joel!

This case has a built-in kickstand and it is part of the protective cover and works both in portrait and landscape mode.

It is available for the iPhone. Dr. Z has not used it for his iPad, but they offer models for the iPad as well.

You can order this case from the following link (link to case website) (Dr. Z gets no commission!) You can also order it from Amazon.

So easy so simple!

By the way, if you need video communication (VP or VRS), why not try Z5, you will like it! Click here to get it! (See if you qualify to get a FREE tablet with a stand!)

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development

A Dedicated iPad for Video Communication–Think About It!

Z5 ipad

We have come to depend on the iPad for video communication like Dr. Z does at his home. He has 2 iPads–one for general use and the other just for video communication.

He has found this a useful way to do it. Because with a iPad for several uses, when a call comes in, it is often too late to get out of what you are doing (such as browsing or playing games) and answering the call right away.

With a dedicated iPad, you only have to tap “Answer” on your Z5 and the call gets connected right away! Especially with the new Z Alert when you get a text message that a call comes in, you can go right to your iPad to answer the phone! Sometimes a family member or children would take your iPad to play games and you’ll be stuck trying to get the iPad back to answer a call or make a call.

Think about it!

So easy so simple!

By the way, if you need video communication (VP or VRS), why not try Z5, you will like it! Click here to get it! (See if you qualify to get a FREE tablet with a stand!)

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development

Answering Your VP /VRS Call with SMS! Z Alert is Here!

sms

A new benefit with ZVRS!

When a call comes in, you do not have to depend on lights flashing–now you can answer a call when a text message comes in via SMS from ZVRS using the Z Alert feature. SMS is much quicker than email and as soon as the call comes in, your smartphone or your PC using Z5 will vibrate alerting you to an incoming call!

Try it, you’ll like it. Here’s the link for more information (link)

So easy so simple!

By the way, if you need video communication (VP or VRS), why not try Z5, you will like it! Click here to get it! (See if you qualify to get a FREE tablet with a stand!)

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development

Stuck with a Foreign Language? – Google Translate to the Rescue!

Water is never safe to drink in many countries. Dr. Z recently encountered a situation in a restaurant where he tried to ask if they prepared food using purified water. The term “purified” didn’t make sense to the waitress. Scratching his head, Dr. Z came up with what he thought was a good solution. He decided to use the Google Translate app and sure enough it was able to translate the sentence “do you use purified water?” It was translated fine but later on he found out that the word “purified” could translate to some other meaning.

The next time Dr.Z uses Google Translate, the suggestion to use in this case would be type “safe” water instead of “purified”. Keeping things simple usually works.

Another use for your iPhone or iPad while traveling! Most restaurants and hotels have wifi overseas, but the speed is painfully slow and doesn’t work 100% of the time.

So easy so simple!

By the way, if you need video communication (VP or VRS), why not try Z5, you will like it! Click here to get it! (See if you qualify to get a FREE tablet with a stand!)

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development

An Ideal App for International Traveling–Amount

Dr. Z has been traveling internationally. When you travel internationally, your mind is in US dollars for currency, fahrenheit for temperature, miles for distance, pounds for weight.

Overseas, they have many different currencies, most use celsius instead of fahrenheit, kilometers instead of miles, kilograms instead of pounds. And you get “lost”–just use an app that does all of these, rather than downloading several apps to do each of these.

Dr. Z has been using an app called “Amount” that takes care of this, and a lot more. It is not free, but is only 99 cents from the Apple app store. At first, it is a bit confusing to use but later on it becomes cool and easy when you get the hang of it.

Here’s the link to download “Amount”.

So easy so simple!

By the way, if you need video communication (VP or VRS), why not try Z5, you will like it! Click here to get it! (See if you qualify to get a FREE tablet with a stand!)

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development

Cool Features on iPhone and IPad that are Often Overlooked-Part 2

 

Dr. Z, when he is talking with friends, family or someone who is interested in ZVRS notices that many people do not make good use of features on the iPhone and the iPad. So, he is going to take time to make those overlooked features useful!

iOS_7_Control_Center

1-Camera

This opens the camera app quickly. Many of you use the home page to do so–you can also do it with the Control Center by swiping from the bottom and tapping the camera icon.2-Wifi

2-Brightness

It is often overlooked. You can control screen brightness by moving the slider from left to right. The darker the screen, you save more battery life. Indoors, you usually can reduce brightness without hurting anything. Outdoors, you usually need a brighter screen.

3-Lock screen rotation

When on, you can lock the screen from rotating. It is usually useful when you are reading lying down in bed or on your sofa.

More to come!

So easy so simple!

By the way, if you need video communication (VP or VRS), why not try Z5, you will like it! Click here to get it! (See if you qualify to get a FREE tablet with a stand!)

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development