The first person every week who guesses the location of where Dr. Z correctly will receive a $5 Starbucks or Target gift card. We will post the name of the winner every week on this site. There was a correct guess for Episode #31. The place was Angkor Wat in Cambodia. For this episode, you need to identify the landmark, the city and the state. (Dr. Z is a few weeks late in issuing gift cards–bear with me.)
Author Archives: pbravin
Editorial #32-Three Innovations That Changed America for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People
This is an adaption of a recent CNN article on “Three Innovations That Changed America.” (link)
Dr. Z came up with a variant, those that changed America for deaf and hard of hearing people.
1) Relay Services – Beginning with the TTY relay service in the 1960’s and now with video relay service (and videophones). Dr. Z believes these are the biggest impact we have had as those technological advances changed our lives, and opened up our world of communication with hearing people that we did not have before. In addition, we now can talk to our deaf and hard of hearing friends remotely, without having to go over to see them (and missing them when they are not home.) Also asking our neighbors to make phone calls for us.
2) Closed Captioning – This ranks near the top–how can we enjoy movies and television without captioning? This is unthinkable. Now we enjoy television with over 100 channels that are captioned for the most part for most of the day. The movies still have a way to go and still catching up. Over time, Dr. Z believes this will get even better with internet captioning being mandated with the proposed HR 3101 bill now pending before Congress.
3) Interpreting Services – For sign language and oral interpreting–this bridges the gap between us and hearing people in a live (face to face) setting. With certification advances developed by the RID and later, the NAD, we are seeing certified interpreters facilitating communication for us in schools, courts, hospitals and many other public places. We still have a way to go in making sure these public facilities assume the responsibility for paying those interpreters. We are now seeing those interpreters facilitating communication for video relay services.
What is interesting about the those above is they all relate to communication!
For your information, the CNN article lists the following as the top 3:
1) The interstate highway system
2) Television
3) The Internet (and the world wide web)
Anyone out there have any thoughts on the above?
Dr. Z cares about your communication access.
Let’s Go to School with Dr. Z
Dr. Z has set up classes for you all to learn about the Z Products and about the VRS industry. The classes will take place online using a MCU (multipoint control unit.) In this setup, 8 of you will see each other and Dr. Z in a class. Any videophone can be used to participate in the class. Each class is limited to 8 students. If a class is full, you will be put on a waiting list. Dr. Z will set up more classes so you can have a chance to learn some more about our products and other things.
Classes will take place several times a week and will cover a wide variety of topics. The first classes will cover the Z4 (the downloadable videophone.) The Z4 allows you to download software onto your netbook, laptop or desktop and it will become a full-functioning videophone (with a webcam or a built-in webcam.)
Signing up for class is simple! Just go to www.drzvrs.com/school and click on the class you want to enter. You will receive a confirmation and the day before the class, you will receive some materials. At the time of the class, Dr. Z will call you to have you join the class.
Dr. Z cares about your communication access.
Disclosure: Dr. Z is a contractor working with CSDVRS on several projects.
Editorial #31-Why Do You Need to Use a Remote Control When Using a Videophone?
When one looks for a videophone, they should select one that fits their needs. But many deaf people are provided with a free videophone that does not necessarily meet their needs, and thus changes their behavior like using a remote control when they communicate via a videophone. This doesn’t make good sense.
Look at the hearing people around us–they have cell phones, they have wireless phones in their house–they select the phones that best meet their daily habits.
Dr. Z has a Z-150 at his home office next to his laptop. With this set up Dr. Z is not giving up his television, or needs to buy a television in order to communicate via a videophone. But why a laptop next to a self-contained videophone like the Z-150? When he calls his cable company using his Z-150, in discussing with the cable company, he can look up his account on his laptop to retrieve some information. This is a natural way of using a videophone on a desk.
Many deaf people in their homes have their videophones attached to a television. That means they didn’t get a videophone for free, because they had to pay for the television attached to their videophone. They should think of looking at other providers such as ZVRS which have videophones that are comparably priced to televisions and fit a wide range of their needs so they do not have to change their behavior to fit the videophone. With the Z product line of 3 videophones and the Z4 software, the deaf person finds a videophone that fits their behavior.
How many hearing people use a remote control to talk over a cell phone? This is not the natural way. They use keypads—like the Z products.
Freedom of choice!
Dr. Z cares about your communication access.
Disclosure: Dr. Z is a contractor working with CSDVRS on several projects.
Ask Dr. Z-Where Can I find Information about FCC and VRS?
The FCC is a public agency. Like all public agencies, they have a wide range of things to deal with. Their website-www.fcc.gov is a very comprehensive website. But to try to navigate through their website to get to the heart of VRS information requires some patience and effort.
Dr. Z had an idea–he put together 5 links that will make it easy for you to go to the right places in the FCC website and will give you most of the information related to VRS. The links are on this web page, to your left–“FCC Information on TRS/VRS.” The links below cover the following areas:
– TRS/VRS Headlines – lists all the orders and announcements
– What You Need to Know about TRS/VRS – lists all the information the FCC publishes regarding TRS and VRS, including vlogs
– Filings for Proceeding 03-123 – Lists all the comments/complaints filed by everyone related to TRS/VRS
– Filings for Proceeding 10-51 – Lists all the comments/complaints filed by everyone related to TRS/VRS
– Filing a Complaint/Comment for TRS/VRS – Brings up a form for anyone to file a comment or complaint regarding TRS/VRS
Dr. Z hopes you will find this information useful.
Dr. Z (and the FCC) cares about your communication access.
Week of 2/28/10-Episode #31 (VLOG) (NEW)
The first person every week who guesses the location of where Dr. Z correctly will receive a $5 Starbucks or Target gift card. We will post the name of the winner every week on this site. There was a correct guess for Episode #30. The place was Petra in Jordan. For this episode, you need to identify the place and the country. (Dr. Z is a few weeks late in issuing gift cards–bear with me.)
Editorial #30-Counting to 100 Before Taking the Leap
Having been around for some time (I admit to having white hair), I have found that a simple dictum goes a long way and I will take this opportunity to outline this in view of recent developments in the VRS industry and the FCC. This is a small deviation from my usual postings, but in the blogosphere, anyone has their right to express their thoughts–this is one of the wonders of the internet!
Let me explain this dictum—when a situation comes up, it’s usually better (except in cases of emergency), to pause before we react. If we react before we pause, we often regret the consequences of our reaction. If we pause before we react and then outline our reaction, even if the outcome may not be what we want, we can tell ourselves, we did think this through and people have reasons for their decisions or whatever the case may be, and take the consequences of the situation in stride.
The recent declarations by the FCC require us to pause, read into it, discuss this among ourselves, and with the FCC. Having done all this, we can then develop a course of action and work through the system to resolve any differences. Dr. Z is sometimes guilty of reacting before pausing, but he reminds himself to “count to 100 before taking the leap.” We should use whatever processes are in place to resolve any differences.
This is only the beginning of what we may see “a sea of change” in the regulatory arena when it comes to VRS. Remember, VRS is an industry still in its infancy and this is a mid-course correction which usually happens like when a butterfly comes out of its cocoon. At first, it flies carefully and unsure of its direction before going in its targeted direction. But going towards its targeted direction, the butterfly does not fly in a straight line–it flies up and down, left and right–this is exactly where we are in the VRS industry. In due time, we all will then settle and have the service we all cherish and deserve.
Let’s count to 100 before we take the leap. We all care about VRS as a service and it is here to stay.
Dr. Z cares about your communication access.
Ask Dr. Z-Which webcam is the best for my Z4? Which one gives the best picture quality?
Especially with software based applications such as the Z4, people have come to us asking which webcam they should use for their laptop or desktop.
What is a webcam? A webcam is a “web camera.” It is a camera used to communicate via video (like a dedicated videophone).
First things first—you always pay for what you get.
Second–Most laptops and netbooks today have built-in webcams-which means you do not have to buy a separate webcam.
Third-If you have a desktop, you need to buy a webcam from any of the providers usually at Best Buy or WalMart–the top 3 major providers of webcams are Creative, Microsoft and Logitech. They come in all forms and shapes and in different price ranges. Usually the recommendation is not to buy a cheap webcam, a mid priced-$35 and up would be Dr. Z’s recommendation. Most webcams can be returned (check your store’s return policy) if you feel the quality is not what you expect. The higher priced webcams tend to have better quality.
If you have a MacBook (Mac laptop) or an iMac, they all come with built in webcams which provide really good quality. If you have a desktop Mac (Mac Pro), you can add an Apple Cinema Display which also has a built-in webcam. The Apple webcams are called iSight. Some of the older Apple models do not have a built-in webcam so check first.
For the PC world, you have to check first as to whether the display (or monitor) has a built-in webcam. If it doesn’t, you would have to buy a webcam off the shelf. Most of the newer models with built-in webcams offer good quality for video communication.
The Z4 will locate the webcam automatically. If you have 2 webcams, you will need to select one using the Z4 configuration button under “video.”
The advantage of a laptop or netbook is its portability–you can carry it anywhere and use wifi or mifi to be able to communicate from wherever you want.
Dr. Z cares about your communication access.
Disclosure: Dr. Z is a contractor working with CSDVRS on several projects.
Ask Dr. Z-Where do I keep my contact list/phone numbers? How do I keep them safe?
We all have address books, calendars, checkbooks and all kids of important information that we carry around or save on our computers or videophones.
We often forget or neglect to do one important thing–backing up all of this in case something breaks or crashes.
What Dr. Z does for himself–he keeps everything online–on the web (or the “cloud” for all his key information, protected by passwords, of course.
Why does Dr. Z do this? He has been in the technology field for over 40 years and has been witness to many stories of disasters, lost information all those years.
Some videophones such as the VP-200 keep your information on the videophone–in cases where the videophone crashes or whatever–while waiting for the vendor to replace the videophone–where is the contact list–where is the address book? It is temporarily in a “black hole” while waiting for it to be replaced. And you won’t have access to it while waiting for it to be repaired or replaced.
Is there a solutiuon?
Of course–“My Contacts” offered by ZVRS on their website-www.zvrs.com
“My Contacts”, after you set up your profile, allows you to keep your contact list and phone numbers in a safe place. It is always on the web, so it won’t be lost. When you visit your friends and you need a phone number–just go to the web and pull up “My Contacts.”
When you have one of the Z-Phones (Z-150, Z-340, Z-Ojo and Z4), the contacts are automatically loaded down to the Z-Phones.
Peace of mind, guaranteed!
Dr. Z cares about your communication access.
Disclosure: Dr. Z is a contractor working with CSDVRS on several projects.
An Article-A Peek Inside My Z4 Life
Now that a great thing is out of the bag! Dr. Z sometimes tries his best to be impartial, but sometimes, one needs to cross the line of impartiality to tell the world about something he has been with the past few months and couldn’t resist holding it back.
Dr. Z has been a beta tester for the Z4 product the past few months-he has used the Z4 when he traveled all over giving his talks on numbering–used it in countless airports and hotels (while it was a beta product!)
Dr. Z has been in the technology field for over 40 years–he has white hair, attesting to his age in technology. He knows the difference between a good product and a great one and the Z4 product is one that falls into the “great” category of a product. Doctors often prescribe medicine or treatments for their patients. Dr. Z is prescribing all video communication users (VRS and point to point) to use the Z4 product. For starters, it works on a PC or a Mac. You can build your contact list on the web or on the Z4, and it will be saved either way and will always be there. If you want to show a web site while you are in communication mode, the Z4 makes it easy to show this page. If you want to see the face of a hearing person who has a webcam while doing a VRS call, the Z4 can show three video shots, yourself, the interpreter and the hearing person you are talking to. Finally, it can record your video conversations–you can save it and send the conversation as an attachment to an email. This is scratching the surface with more to come…
The secret to the completeness of this product is that it was designed by deaf people for use by deaf and hard of hearing people. When a shoemaker makes shoes for himself, the shoes fit perfectly. The same is true of the Z4.
Over the holidays, my wife and I were delayed in Las Vegas. We needed to reach her deaf mother to let her know of the delay. At that time, her Blackberry was down–remember the great Blackberry outage at that time? Dr. Z immediately thought of his Mac in his backpack and pulled it out and with the Z4, and no plugs, no cords (the Mac had a good wifi connection at the airport) and she was able to connect with her mother to let her know of her delay. It is that spontaneous event that makes the Z4 a great product.
You can download the Z4 at www.zvrs.com. Try it, you’ll like it, believe me.
Dr. Z cares about your communication access.
Disclosure: Dr. Z is a contractor working with CSDVRS on several projects.