Category Archives: Zinfo

Editorial #119: Traveling Overseas-Not Enough Plugs for Your Devices?

Dr. Z is on vacation in Scotland.

When traveling overseas, there is always the issue of not having enough plugs (outlets) for your devices. From previous experience, Dr. Z has seen how many old hotels do not have enough outlets for your devices. To make things worse, most outlets are not compatible with American two-prong outlets, so you need an adapter to be able to use your American plugs in other countries. The outlets are different in various regions of the world–Europe is different from Asia, South America is different from Ireland and the United Kingdom. We like to stay at small hotels, bed and breakfasts and many do not have enough outlets in our rooms. I have my iPhone, iPad and a Flip camcorder. My wife has a Blackberry. That is four devices. With most hotels having one outlet or two, we had to juggle between devices to be sure they were charged. With only one adapter for to share among those devices was not easy.

(in America we have 110/120 volts) (Overseas most outlets run at 220/240 volts). The adapters for most mobile devices today are “intelligent”–they are able to switch between 120 and 240 volts without having to change any switches or settings.

What did Dr. Z do? Dr. Z in planning for this trip came up with a solution and my wife and I are happy! Here’s the solution:

– buy an universal adapter that is designed for international travel. It does not have to have voltage converter capability. (you cannot use a hair dryer with such adapters)

– buy a small power strip with a built in circuit breaker

And you shall travel happily ever after!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

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

20120919-085118.jpgPower Strip

power strip20120919-085137.jpgThe Complete Setup

20120920-091042.jpgAdapter

Editorial #118: Traveling in Ireland…VP? Uploading and Downloading?

Dr. Z is on vacation in Ireland.

He has been traveling from Dublin to Southern and Southwest Ireland. There is wi-fi in every town but the upload speeds are too low for viable video communication. The download speeds are usually good.

What is upload and download? Internet works like a two-way street. Download is when you receive information from the Internet to your device. Upload is when you send information from your device to the Internet. Most of the time, the download speed is much faster than the upload speed because we get more information on our device than we send it.

For good video communication, the upload and download speed need to be over 1.0 Mbps…when you access www.speedtest.net, it allows you to test the upload and download speeds. If it is over 1.00 for both upload and download, you should be able to do good video communication. If it is below .50, you might have trouble communicating via video. Most of the time in Ireland, the download speeds are over 1.00 but upload speeds have been between 0.10 and 0.30.

Dr. Z will continue to test wifi as he travels the next few weeks and report back.

By the way, Ireland is such a wonderful country, with beautiful sights and great food!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

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

Labor Day Treat for iPhone and iPad Users–Popular Games on Sale by EA! Limited Time!

Dr. Z has a Labor Day treat for iPhone and iPad users. It can stop anytime now. But today, theres a big sale of popular games such as Monoloply, Scrabble, Risk and sports such as Madden NFL for 99 cents! Normally they are between $2.99 and $6.99.

EA is the company that publishes these games and they usually go on sale during holidays but they sometimes pull these off without warning so take advantage of it NOW!

Here’s a link to the list of those games on sale:  http://www.iosnoops.com/2012/08/30/iphone-and-ipad-apps-price-drops-august-30/

Enjoy your long weekend!

Disclaimer: Dr. Z and ZVRS do not have any interest in EA, nor do we assume any responsibility for price changes after this posting.

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

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

The Best Interpreters!

People ask Dr. Z why they should use ZVRS?

We have a good product set (Z-20, Z4) which makes use of benefits (Call Alert, Private Dialing, etc.).

But our secret is our INTERPRETERS! Dr. Z knows our interpreters are the best and they all are CERTIFIED! Interpreters from other VRS companies are not necessarily 100% certified. You can see the difference. Our interpreters start and end calls with a smile.

Want to try us? Let’s call 888-888-1116 from your nTouch, VP-200 or P3.

Try us, you will like 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

Interview with DeafTechNews on Z Mobile, Z Desktop and Firefly

During the DeafNation show, Dr. Z was interviewed by Samuel Sandoval of DeafTechNews on the new Z products–Z Mobile, Z Desktop and Firefly.

Firefly is a project ZVRS worked with the students at NTID/RIT. They came up with a bluetooth device which vibrates and flashes when a phone call comes in. The product will be available later this year.

Here are the links to the interviews:

Interview on Z Mobile and Z Desktop

Interview on Firefly

Here are the links to our website on those new products:

Z Mobile for Apple iOS

Z Desktop

Enjoy! It is so easy, so simple…#soeasysosimple!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

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

The Future is Coming! The All New Z Mobile for iOS and Z Desktop in Las Vegas!

Here it is! #soeasysosimple #soeasysosimple #soeasysosimple

We will be demonstrating the best mobile and desktop stuff for video communication at Deaf Nation World Expo at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas next week! (July 30-August 1)

ZVRS has partnered with a group of deaf developers to develop the user interface and software for our new flagship products for the iPhone, iPad, PC and Mac.

We started earlier this year, identifying what would be the easiest way to do video communication. We wanted something so easy so simple to use, requiring the lowest number of clicks to do what we wanted to do-resulting in simple, easy to navigate screens. It is something ZVRS IS VERY PROUD OF!

The software will be ready to download in a few weeks. The Android version will be available this fall.

Here are the links to our website on those new products:

Z Mobile for Apple iOS

Z Desktop

Enjoy! It is so easy, so simple…#soeasysosimple!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

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

Here Now! The All New Z Mobile for iOS and Z Desktop

Here it is!

The best mobile and desktop stuff for video communication!

ZVRS has partnered with a group of deaf developers to develop the user interface and software for our new flagship products for the iPhone, iPad, PC and Mac.

We started earlier this year, identifying what would be the easiest way to do video communication. We wanted something so easy so simple to use, requiring the lowest number of clicks to do what we wanted to do-resulting in simple, easy to navigate screens. It is something ZVRS IS VERY PROUD OF!

The software will be ready to download in a few weeks. The Android version will be available this fall.

Here are the links to our website on those new products:

Z Mobile for Apple iOS

Z Desktop

Enjoy! It is so easy, so simple…#soeasysosimple!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

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

The Best is to Come!

Coming soon!!!

Dr. Z took a peek at what will be launched next week at the NAD conference.

He is excited!

No hints…but the only thing he can say this represents a new transformation in how we communicate using video.

Details will be posted on the ZVRS website (www.zvrs.com) after the launch takes place.

Stay tuned!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

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

The Big Apple Announcement–Anything New for Video on the iPhone and iPad?

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.

Dr. Z on the iPad Home Button–Useful Stuff

Dr. Z in talking with some people who use an iPad was surprised to learn that many do not realize the simple button, called the “Home” button at the bottom of an iPad, has many different features, depending on how you press the button. The link to the iMore.com website has good stuff on the “Home” button.

Pressing it once:

  • If your iPad is sleeping and you click the Home button it will wake up and ask you to slide to unlock.
  • If you’re in an app like Safari, Mail, Angry Birds, etc. and you click the Home Button you’ll return to the Home screen with all your app icons.
  • If you’re on your second or third Home screen and click the Home button you’ll return to your main (first) Home Screen.
  • If you’re on your main (first) Home screen and click the Home Button you’ll go to Spotlight Search.
More information on the iMore.com link.

Pressing it twice:

  •  If your iPad is sleeping but playing music or media (video) (Music app, a video, etc.) and you double click the Home button, the media controls will pop up on the lock screen so you can pause/play, skip, etc.
  • If you’re on the Home Screen or using an app and you double click the Home button the Fast App Switcher will open so you can quickly change between apps or swipe over to the audio, brightness, orientation lock/mute button, and other widget controls.
Swipe means you move the icons on the bottom to your left or right by sliding your finger on the screen.  There’s more information such as pressing it three times, pressing and holding it, or pressing it and holidng the sleep/wake button on the top right of your iPad.  Such information is at this link.
Dr. Z will continue to write up more information like this. (do not forget to try ZVRS by dialing 888-888-1116 for relay calls.)

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.