TMCNet.com reports that Sorenson Communications launches SIPRelay (Sorenson IP Relay) Mobile for BlackBerry smartphones. It works like a regular relay service. BlackBerry users download the software the first time they use it.
The user enters the phone number to call. An operator calls the phone number and relays the deaf person’s messages by voice and types the hearing person’s responses. You can watch a video showing how it works. No captions — ASL only.
SIPRelay also offers VCO and other relay services.
BlackBerry Adds Relay Service
Upgraded Blog Design
We’ve made some tweaks to the blog design to give it more originality (original blog design was based on a template). What do you think? Is it readable? Scannable? Usable?
Links: 2008-06-06
* She’s deaf, a college valedictorian and planning FBI career
*
Deaf Organisations, Deaf People & Information Sharing Part 1 and Part 2
* Active All Deaf forum discussion on deaf world vs. hearing world
* Finland: Deaf Viewers Demand Public Broadcasters Provide Subtitles
* Australia: Word is out about deaf phone option
* UK Book: Seriously funny
* DeafYoga Foundation
Deaf and Hearing Impaired Drive-Thru
* New E911 Calling Method for the Deaf
* Bill seeks to expand captioning for the deaf: References online videos. Yeah!
* Rabbi says deaf ‘ineligible for conversion’: Unbelievable. A step backwards by 50 years. Please know that not all Jewish people agree with the Rabbi.
Vibrating Bracelets for the Deaf
Trendhunter shows pictures of “Vibering,” a vibrating bracelet that comes with two stylish rings. The wearer must wear both rings, not just one, for the system to work.
The system captures sounds and notifies the wearer of any sounds. The rings do the listening while the watch does the reporting of the identified sound. The rings listen for sounds coming from behind the wearer and determine the length and position of the sound.
“The wristwatch module will identify the sound wave and show results in an easy-to-read LCD display. Heck, it is even smart enough to recognize key phrases such as “Excuse Me”, your own name and even a vehicle’s horn.”
This bears the question of what will Vibering do in a noisy or public place?
I looked all over the Internet for more info on the product other than the standard release that you see in many blogs. No such luck. It could be in Chinese, which may be why I can’t find the original source. I’m sure we’ll hear more about this innovative product.
One thing. The name fits perfectly. However, before I read about the product, I thought the name sounded … ahem… pornographic. Sure enough, in searching for the original source, several XXX-rated products and sites showed up in the search results.
Fraying Processor Coil and Cable
Unbelievable! I’m trying to contain myself as much as possible. I’m on my second coil and cable (this part connects the processor to the magnet — it’s the round thing everyone sees attached to the head) and I haven’t had this processor for that long. I can’t recall when I changed out the first to the second, but now both cable insulations ripped.
I went to Cochlear to order another one. TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY DOLLARS! $290. Three figures! For a freaking cable and connector? Calm down… calm down.
I emailed Cochlear and told them I expect a replacement at no charge. Two broken ones and I think I may have had this processor about a year? For $290, I expect them to last at least five years between them.
No, I don’t throw these around and abuse them. I gently pull off the magnet by gripping the round part not the cable.
$290. Unbelievable.
Meme: 4 Things About Me
In eight years of blogging, I don’t think I’ve participated in more than 10 memes. I could be wrong, but I’m not about to dig through thousands of entries to prove it. Bob at the Writing Journey asks if we meme. My response:
I find meme postings interesting and insightful. I learn more about the person behind them. But I rarely subscribe to memes in my own blog — more so in the Bionic Ear blog because it’s a personal blog.
I do memes in e-mail though — my friends aren’t bloggers and we love learning about each other through these memes.
So this post motivated me to take up Bob on his meme.
Here are the rules:
1. Link to the person that tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share 4 things in these themes.
4. Tag 4 random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.
So, here we go, my lists of 4s:
4 jobs I have had
* Radio Shack headquarters file slave.
* Toys R Us checker and stocker.
* Gift wrapper in my mom’s short-lived wrapping store.
* Data entry for a cool antique car catalog.
4 movies I can watch over and over
I had to think about this one. I have so many movies that I want to see that I don’t like to waste time watching something I’ve already seen. It was more of a… do I want to reveal what I like though it means I might come across as a dork?
* A Chorus Line: I know it didn’t do well, but I love this musical and it’s all we got on video.
* Fiddler on the Roof. Funny, strong story, and great songs.
* Oklahoma! Sensing a pattern here…? Remember, I follow musical movies better with captions than staged shows. But I do enjoy going to the theater.
* Mame. Stinks that Angela Lansbury didn’t get to do this, but I could play the big Mame song scene hundreds of times without getting sick of it.
4 places I have lived: Actually, this is the COMPLETE list.
* Fort Worth, Texas: Born and bred there. Stayed until married.
* Alexandria, Virginia: First place after the wedding.
* Washington, DC: When we finally got base housing, we moved out of our Alexandria apartment into a three bedroom house on Bolling
* Plano, Texas: My current home.
4 TV shows I love
* Veronica Mars: I discovered it and watched all three seasons after it had been canceled. It broke my heart that this show didn’t get the recognition it deserved. Even my teen daughter loved it and she learned about it from me! How often does a teen listen to Mom?
* Charmed: Just a wonderful show that managed to overcome the lost of a major character It ended on a perfect note.
* Friends: Talkin’ about my generation. Fraiser: Smart comedy.
* Tie (shows on now): Monk and Psych: Love the combination of comedy and a good mystery where we can try to solve it ourselves. Medium: Scary fascination — kind of like Dexter but without the main character being a serial killer plus a family we can relate to. I don’t like scary, but these two I do. Just discovered and watch two seasons of Dexter in the past two weeks! Curb Your Enthusiasm: Rolling on the floor comedy.
4 places I have been on vacation
* Florida. Lost count.
* Hawaii.
* Vegas. Great for a short getaway, but tired of it now.
* Colorado.
4 of my favorite dishes
* Qdoba’s nachos. I can’t get sick of them no matter how hard I try.
* Tex-mex.
* Pizza. Hard to find good pizza that’s not “chain-like” tasting these days.
* A good burger.
4 web sites I visit daily
* Woot.com. Just never know what I find. Sure, I stupidly bought some stuff.
* Gamezebo. Superb casual games site with an active community.
* The Diamond Games. It’s his fault I love casual games.
* NYU Online. Gotta check on the students and make sure they’re getting work done.
4 places I would rather be now
* England. My dream vacation.
* Israel.
* U.S. city I have yet to visit. This includes Chicago, Seattle, and San Francisco. O’Hare doesn’t count.
* Paris.
4 bloggers I am tagging
* Like Bob, I’m skipping this.
* I never cared for tagging or publicly announcing who I think will respond and won’t respond.
* Besides, memes catch on with little help.
* I don’t have a fourth comment.
Football Player Writes Autobiography
This autobiography isn’t just another one about my life as a deaf person…
“After a head injury that ended his promising football career, and a painful divorce, Thunander downed much of a fifth of Jack Daniels, put a single bullet in a revolver, put the gun barrel to his head and pulled the trigger.”
Corsicana Daily Sun gives us the highlights on the life of former Oklahoma University football player who’s book, Silent Thunder, comes out this month.
meryl's notes blog 8th Birthday Celebration
My blog sister is celebrating her 8th birthday on June 1. I’m just a baby as I wasn’t born until 2003. If you subscribe to me, you get entries into a drawing for over $2000 in prizes!
Embarrassing, but Funny Deaf Moments
We all have embarrassing moments, and most of the time (we hope) we laugh at them later.
Embarrassing but Funny Deaf Moments: I’ve zoned out at a green light a couple of times, too.
From Ear of My Heart: Fire alarm story. Haven’t had one of those… yet!
Deaf Womyn Pride
Forgot to Turn off My Car: This is becoming a problem now that my new car doesn’t need keys to start — just turn the ignition. Did it once, so far. Hope I won’t do it again!
You Think I’m Crazy? Story
Deaf Culture Online
My Stories
* Shopping: My mom and I were shopping in a clothing store for teens. Mom went to look for some more clothes while I tried on clothes. I opened the door to see my mom and the sales rep talking. Apparently, she thought I was a snob because I was not responding to her questions (I turned off my hearing aids to prevent squealing).
* 7th grade science: We were doing microscope experiments. My table with four people had a hard time finding the organism in the microscope. So I told them I would take one more look. I finally find the organism and said, “I found it!” Again, I had my hearing aids off and when I looked up, the whole class and the teacher were looking at me. Apparently, it was very quiet and the teacher was giving final instructions. (blush)
* Basketball practice: I was practicing shooting baskets. Somehow I zoned out and didn’t notice the team gathering around the coach. I was standing alone on the other side of the court with everyone looking at me. This happens on occasion in tennis… I’ll go the wrong way and sometimes can’t hear people calling because of the wind and other outdoor noises.
* And I do this way too many times… talk louder than necessary when I think it’s noisier than it really is. Hate that.
Hear and Now
Wow, it’s been over a year since I mentioned Irene Taylor Brodsky and her film appearing at Sundance. Hear and Now has reached cable TV for those of us who don’t get to go to Sundance. Hear and Now premiered on HBO late last week and is still available for viewing.
No HBO? I’m sure it’ll be available for rent soon enough.
The story is about Brodsky’s parents, who are in their 60s, deciding to get cochlear implants after living their lives completely in silence. Why change after all this time? It’s harder for older people (even in their 30s like me) to learn to hear without reading lips.
Before anti-CI folks start throwing fire… beware that even Brodsky says, “Mom and Dad are just really good at being deaf people. So why risk failing at this point? Why hear now?”
You got to admit — that’s the million dollar question. Why bother? Sure, they still have 20+ years of living possible, but seriously. Furthermore, they’re not ideal cochlear implant candidates.
The couple met at a deaf boarding school and went on to mainstream in high school. I look forward to watching the film and see how things turn out. The trailer on HBO’s web site has no captions except when the couple talks. But here is a captioned trailer. In the meantime — as expected — folks are discussing the movie…
Cochlear Implants Online
ASL-Cochlear Implant Community
Misha
Blogger News Network
Heart Crossings