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.”

“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.

Dr. Z is deaf…in addition to being associated with ZVRS, he is also a consumer of VRS.

He has been traveling all over the country and has been hearing some unpleasant stories from consumers that a certain provider has been harassing consumers from other VRS providers asking them to port, giving them free equipment and accessories to lure them over. While competition is healthy, the tactics used by that certain provider leaves no room for respect of privacy of deaf and hard of hearing consumers. They show up unannounced at people’s homes; make many many phone calls to harass deaf and hard of hearing people until they port; putting in false stories about commitment periods; telling people that the FCC requires them to port…the list goes on and on. While Dr. Z tries to be above board..it is upsetting when he hears all those horror stories when he travels.

Is that provider listening? “Enough is enough.”

Thanks for allowing me to express my opinion this time. Dr. Z cares about deaf and hard of hearing people everywhere and needs to get this off his chest.

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 across the country with 2 other Dr. Z Associates.

One of the questions and subjects being addressed at those town hall meetings has been whether VRS interpreters are certified. The fact of the matter is some VRS providers do not have certified interpreters–they say thay have qualified interpreters. That is different from having certified interpreters.

ZVRS has 100% certified interpreters on their staff.

You need to check with other VRS providers if their interpreting staff is 100% certified. By saying thay have certified interpreters is not the same as having 100% certified interrpeters.

One VRS provider (Sorenson VRS) on their website says they have national or state certifications… OR “have the professional interpreting experience to become a Sorenson VRS interpreter, subject to skill set verification and screening.” This is not the same as being “CERTIFIED.” What if the interpreter violates some certification requirements, the deaf and hard of hearing consumer has no protection. Also some VRS providers use Canadian interpreters such as Sorenson VRS. These interpreters are not necessarily certified in the US. This affords us no protection as consumers.

Dr. Z cares about our rights as VRS consumers.

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclaimer: Dr. Z is currently the Vice-President of Business Development and Outreach at CSDVRS, LLC.