July 2006 archive

Making Small Talk at Events

I’m not shy, but I am afraid — not for the same reason listed in the article: “Most of us are afraid of rejection.” Rather, I’m afraid that I won’t understand the other person. I’ve reported this before that lipreaders on average only catch one-third of what’s said. Read every third word and you’ll see …

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Virtual Reality Teaches Math to Deaf

Purdue’s Envision Center for Data Perceptualizatoin reports its computer graphics students have created a virtual world using high-tech cameras and “cybergloves” that can translate body and hand motions into digital images to help teach math to deaf students. This technology lets a user interact with virtual characters. [Link: Kotaku]

Gallaudet President Update

A press release indicates that “The Board of Trustees of Gallaudet University is meeting this Friday, July 28 and Saturday, July 29, 2006 for a two-day session which will include at least one closed-door meeting.” As Wonderland’s Alice said, “Curiouser and curiouser.”

AOL Closed Captions for Online Video

Fabulous news! About time a company did something. America Online announces close captions for online video. AOL today announced it is now testing closed captions for streaming news content from CNN that will enhance the online media experience for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Captioned CNN video content will be available throughout …

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Pro Football Player and Brother Plan Camp

Carolina Panthers quarterback Stefan LeFors, a CODA (child of deaf adults), and brother, who is deaf, Eric LeFors are planning a football camp for the deaf at Camp Lakodia in South Dakota.

Dark Room and the Deaf Photographer

I received an email from talented photographer Peter Bryenton, and asked if I could post it here because it gave me insight in a major problem that a deaf photographer has to deal with. They came up with a clever solution… but it isn’t perfect. He kindly agreed and provided an expanded note. There’s a …

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Vote for Deaf Race Car Driver

Mike McConnell has been keeping up with Greg Gunderson, a race car driver who happens to be deaf. Gunderson is up for an upcoming TV reality show called “Racin’ for a Living.” If Gunderson gets enough votes, he’ll become the first deaf driver to compuete in the show. Voting ends on July 31. I even …

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Illness and Hearing

I didn’t wear my implant for almost two days because I was sick. When I put it back on — whoa, it was uncomfortable. Took a little time, but got used to it. It takes time to get used to wearing braces and eye contacts — the same applies to hearing aids and cochlear implants. …

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Not Deaf or Hearing Enough

I’ve heard this argument in different forms. She’s too Jewish. She’s not Jewish enough. She’s too much of a democrat. She’s not Republican enough. Here the person isn’t deaf or hearing enough. I don’t 100% belong in either world, although I have a higher percentage of belong in the hearing world than the deaf world. …

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Communicating with the Deaf

A reader provides tips for communicating with someone who is deaf and she says that deafness is not a visible disability, which can be nice as well as difficult. The good: You’re not instantly judged when you meet strangers unlike other disabilities. My daughter has a friend who has an arm that stops at the …

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