Comments for Dr. Z and You http://www.drzvrs.com Your partner in video communication Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:33:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Happy New Year from Dr. Z by Steven Hammersmith http://www.drzvrs.com/2012/01/happy-new-year-from-dr-z/comment-page-1/#comment-634 Steven Hammersmith Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:33:55 +0000 http://www.drzvrs.com/2012/01/happy-new-year-from-dr-z/#comment-634 What is NPRM? Stevo What is NPRM?
Stevo

]]> Comment on Editorial #90-Sorenson–Please Watch What Your Trainer in The Pacific Northwest Said About 911 Calls from the Z by nick ogrizovich http://www.drzvrs.com/2011/07/editorial-90-sorenson-please-watch-what-your-trainer-in-the-pacific-northwest-said-about-911-calls-from-the-z/comment-page-1/#comment-560 nick ogrizovich Sat, 10 Sep 2011 13:41:45 +0000 http://www.drzvrs.com/2011/07/editorial-90-sorenson-please-watch-what-your-trainer-in-the-pacific-northwest-said-about-911-calls-from-the-z/#comment-560 I would add that for life threatening emergency situations, you might be better off using a landline, calling 911, and then hanging up before suffering through a 15 minute+ relay call. I know of at least one death that was indirectly related to a prolonged relay call in which the 911 person and the interpreter were asking redundant, unimportant questions while the patient's life slowly ticked away. :( A 911 hangup would have had some sort of authority there within minutes, vs. the 45 minutes it took for the VRS method. I know its an isolated example, but it did happen. I would add that for life threatening emergency situations, you might be better off using a landline, calling 911, and then hanging up before suffering through a 15 minute+ relay call. I know of at least one death that was indirectly related to a prolonged relay call in which the 911 person and the interpreter were asking redundant, unimportant questions while the patient’s life slowly ticked away. :( A 911 hangup would have had some sort of authority there within minutes, vs. the 45 minutes it took for the VRS method. I know its an isolated example, but it did happen.

]]> Comment on Editorial #87-Verizon Stops Unlimited Data Plan–What’s Next? Why is Dr. Z Worried? (Updated) by Mark Hill http://www.drzvrs.com/2011/06/editorial-87-verizon-stops-unlimited-data-plan-whats-next-why-is-dr-z-worried/comment-page-1/#comment-523 Mark Hill Fri, 24 Jun 2011 23:06:04 +0000 http://www.drzvrs.com/2011/06/editorial-87-verizon-stops-unlimited-data-plan-whats-next-why-is-dr-z-worried/#comment-523 Phil It also worries me that some deaf people with mobility disabilities may require more time to use any mobile video communication and by the time, they may end up with fewer calls if ATT and Verizon offer tiered data plans. That's not acceptable and unfair! By the way, congratulations to your new position at ZVRS. Mark Hill, President Cerebral Palsy and Deaf Organization Phil

It also worries me that some deaf people with mobility disabilities may require more time to use any mobile video communication and by the time, they may end up with fewer calls if ATT and Verizon offer tiered data plans. That’s not acceptable and unfair!

By the way, congratulations to your new position at ZVRS.

Mark Hill, President
Cerebral Palsy and Deaf Organization

]]> Comment on Editorial #87-Verizon Stops Unlimited Data Plan–What’s Next? Why is Dr. Z Worried? (Updated) by Mike http://www.drzvrs.com/2011/06/editorial-87-verizon-stops-unlimited-data-plan-whats-next-why-is-dr-z-worried/comment-page-1/#comment-522 Mike Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:34:33 +0000 http://www.drzvrs.com/2011/06/editorial-87-verizon-stops-unlimited-data-plan-whats-next-why-is-dr-z-worried/#comment-522 Mike, that's beside the point. We should be able to choose our carriers as freely as hearing folks do. I have to admit, Sprint's network isn't as good as AT&T's network - I used to have AT&T before I joined Sprint (mainly cause it was cheaper). I had much faster service, and more coverage. I do regret leaving to join Sprint, but I do save money with their plan. The point that Dr. Z is trying to make is that ALL carriers should provide unlimited data plan for the deaf/hoh. To quote, "There is precedent for this–in the TTY days, ATT used to give deaf and hard of hearing users a discount because it took longer to communicate via typing." It wouldn't be right if ALL deaf/hoh folks who want to use mobile video communication, have to join ONLY Sprint, simply because (to my knowledge) they are the only carrier that has an unlimited plan. Mike, that’s beside the point. We should be able to choose our carriers as freely as hearing folks do. I have to admit, Sprint’s network isn’t as good as AT&T’s network – I used to have AT&T before I joined Sprint (mainly cause it was cheaper). I had much faster service, and more coverage. I do regret leaving to join Sprint, but I do save money with their plan. The point that Dr. Z is trying to make is that ALL carriers should provide unlimited data plan for the deaf/hoh. To quote, “There is precedent for this–in the TTY days, ATT used to give deaf and hard of hearing users a discount because it took longer to communicate via typing.” It wouldn’t be right if ALL deaf/hoh folks who want to use mobile video communication, have to join ONLY Sprint, simply because (to my knowledge) they are the only carrier that has an unlimited plan.

]]> Comment on Editorial #87-Verizon Stops Unlimited Data Plan–What’s Next? Why is Dr. Z Worried? (Updated) by Mike http://www.drzvrs.com/2011/06/editorial-87-verizon-stops-unlimited-data-plan-whats-next-why-is-dr-z-worried/comment-page-1/#comment-521 Mike Wed, 22 Jun 2011 03:00:57 +0000 http://www.drzvrs.com/2011/06/editorial-87-verizon-stops-unlimited-data-plan-whats-next-why-is-dr-z-worried/#comment-521 Just go with Sprint Relay and use their unlimited data only plan. For more info: www.sprintrelay.com Just go with Sprint Relay and use their unlimited data only plan. For more info: http://www.sprintrelay.com

]]> Comment on Interesting Stories on Using Mobile Devices (#1) by Mitch Travers http://www.drzvrs.com/2010/10/interesting-stories-on-using-mobile-devices-1/comment-page-1/#comment-422 Mitch Travers Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:15:04 +0000 http://www.drzvrs.com/?p=3742#comment-422 Cool, just cool! Keep those stories coming! Cool, just cool! Keep those stories coming!

]]> Comment on Editorial #67-3 Things the Hearing People Have the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community to Thank For by kenneth g samson http://www.drzvrs.com/2010/10/editorial-67-3-things-the-hearing-people-have-the-deaf-and-hard-of-hearing-community-to-thank-for/comment-page-1/#comment-419 kenneth g samson Tue, 19 Oct 2010 05:36:10 +0000 http://www.drzvrs.com/2010/10/editorial-67-3-things-the-hearing-people-have-the-deaf-and-hard-of-hearing-community-to-thank-for/#comment-419 Dr. Z - there's also the now-common gps locator in cell phones, which was originally suggested as a solution by TDI and other organizations to cell phone manufacturers at a roundtable on emergency services for the deaf via cell 911 back in the mid-90's when i was working at TDI. They balked at first, of course, due to the cost, but as we knew it would, the cost eventually came down to make it a feasible solution for cell phones. and now these gps locators are being used in apps on cell phones to do far more than any of us could have imagined or dreamed of back then. Dr. Z – there’s also the now-common gps locator in cell phones, which was originally suggested as a solution by TDI and other organizations to cell phone manufacturers at a roundtable on emergency services for the deaf via cell 911 back in the mid-90′s when i was working at TDI. They balked at first, of course, due to the cost, but as we knew it would, the cost eventually came down to make it a feasible solution for cell phones. and now these gps locators are being used in apps on cell phones to do far more than any of us could have imagined or dreamed of back then.

]]> Comment on Editorial #66-132 Years of the Videophone: From Futuristic Fantasy to Flops to FaceTime-A Guest Article by Technologizer (A Blog) by Karen Putz http://www.drzvrs.com/2010/10/editorial-66-132-years-of-the-videophone-from-futuristic-fantasy-to-flops-to-facetime-a-guest-editorial-by-technologizer-a-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-417 Karen Putz Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:29:01 +0000 http://www.drzvrs.com/2010/10/editorial-66-132-years-of-the-videophone-from-futuristic-fantasy-to-flops-to-facetime-a-guest-editorial-by-technologizer-a-blog/#comment-417 It's amazing how far we've come! Just last week, I was on a boat using two-line VCO with the iTouch and a cell phone. Looking forward to even more advances with the videophone! It’s amazing how far we’ve come! Just last week, I was on a boat using two-line VCO with the iTouch and a cell phone. Looking forward to even more advances with the videophone!

]]> Comment on Editorial #54-The Latest from the FCC on VRS–Dr. Z’s Observations by Sonny http://www.drzvrs.com/2010/06/editorial-54-the-latest-from-the-fcc-on-vrs-dr-zs-observations/comment-page-1/#comment-295 Sonny Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:19:29 +0000 http://www.drzvrs.com/2010/06/editorial-54-the-latest-from-the-fcc-on-vrs-dr-zs-observations/#comment-295 The FCC is to be commended for developing a solution that should create an effective and realistic long-term program while continuing current VRS program. The FCC is to be commended for developing a solution that should create an effective and realistic long-term program while continuing current VRS program.

]]> Comment on Editorial #50-What is the VRSCA and Is Sorenson Funding It? (UPDATED) by pbravin http://www.drzvrs.com/2010/06/editorial-50-what-is-the-vrsca-and-is-sorenson-funding-it/comment-page-1/#comment-269 pbravin Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:04:44 +0000 http://www.drzvrs.com/2010/06/editorial-50-what-is-the-vrsca-and-is-sorenson-funding-it/#comment-269 Thanks Scot for the clarification. Thanks Scot for the clarification.

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