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Recently I watched a girl using sign language with another person via Facetime and I though to myself "This shit is what technology is about." So, screw this. E

Recently I watched a girl using sign language with another person via Facetime and I though to myself "This shit is what technology is about." So, screw this. Even if it doesn't succeed with everyone and everywhere it makes some people's lives a lot easier.

vetler 16y ago
I tried using 3g video calling on my phone a few years ago, but was never impressed. It was a hassle, really ... difficult to walk and talk at the same time. However, one day I saw someone I saw using sign language over 3g video calling, and was impressed. This is a few years ago, actually. You probably don't need Facetime if you're on a decent mobile network.
benatkin 16y ago
So did I. It was in the Apple commercial. The article isn't arguing that Facetime won't succeed as a niche product so I don't see why you take issue with it.
ZeroGravitas 16y ago
I have no first hand experience, but I'd guess the widespread use of SMS text messaging was a much bigger boon for those with hearing difficulties. Not quite as "sexy", and difficult to portray in an ad (particularly as you'd be even more insane to try and claim this was an innovative feature of your platform) but still out there making people's lives better. I'm fairly certain the same is true of the web generally despite occasional steps backwards with Flash, unsubtitled and untranscribed audio and video etc.
- numix 16y ago
  As a data point, my grandparents are deaf, and their use of SMS has pretty much replaced TTY Relay, and made it much easier for them to have quick conversation with almost anyone. They still seem to use video chatting within their group of friends with hearing difficulties, but it's reserved for the type of conversations we would have over the phone.
juiceandjuice 16y ago
Okay, here's the full lowdown on how deaf people communicate. Currently, deaf people log somewhere close to 2 million VRS minutes a month. These are services where they talk to a VI (video interpreter) to translate sign language as they call somebody else. This is their native language, and I assure you they prefer it more than any other mode of communication. Many of them absolutely abhor TTY and often relate text messages with that. However there are other services which piggy back off of AIM called IPRelay. This are the only way to communicate on the go, so they are somewhat popular, but nowhere near as popular as VRS. Currently, the only real VRS solutions are point to point from their homes. Some companies have tried to piggy back off of Facetime with little success, largely due to constraints with the wifi and FCC regulations of logging minutes (that's how they get paid) In the coming months, Sorenson (previously the Sorenson in the Sorenson codec http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorenson_codec http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorenson_codec), the largest provider by far of VRS services (more than a factor of 10) will start to unveil their full onslaught of VRS communications to the deaf community. Deaf people will be able to use VRS services on Android, iPhone, PCs and Macs. And not just on wifi, the goal is deployment on 3G and 4G networks, the holy grail, especially because wifi can get really tricky when users are behind firewalls. What does it take for this deployment? Sorenson has a quality requirement of a minimum of 12 fps and sub 1 second latency over 3G and 4G networks, but a goal closer to 15fps. They've been able to meet their goals, and their video puts Qik to shame. Sprint is likely going to license Sorenson's technology because they also provide some of their own branded VRS services. So, will the hearing take to video chat? Maybe, maybe not. But the deaf will. For the first time in their life they'll be able to call anyone from anywhere you and I can, and talk to them in their native language, ASL. I probably wouldn't have said any of this a month ago, but Sorenson started pushing a video teaser for their nTouch brand, which is the brand name for their entire solution (Mobile, PC, and TV based VRS systems)
- jallmann 16y ago
  VRS vet here. Your email's not in your profile, can you get in touch with me? Joshua dot allmann at gmail.
- seanebelanger 16y ago
  you are quite a bit off in number of minutes the number is 8 million a month.. you are correct in deaf preference for VRS In regard to Sorenson. ZVRS has already introduced a incredibly high quality product that works on both the droid and the iphone as well as tablets zvrs.com

vetler 16y ago

I tried using 3g video calling on my phone a few years ago, but was never impressed. It was a hassle, really ... difficult to walk and talk at the same time. However, one day I saw someone I saw using sign language over 3g video calling, and was impressed. This is a few years ago, actually. You probably don't need Facetime if you're on a decent mobile network.

benatkin 16y ago

So did I. It was in the Apple commercial. The article isn't arguing that Facetime won't succeed as a niche product so I don't see why you take issue with it.

ZeroGravitas 16y ago

I have no first hand experience, but I'd guess the widespread use of SMS text messaging was a much bigger boon for those with hearing difficulties. Not quite as "sexy", and difficult to portray in an ad (particularly as you'd be even more insane to try and claim this was an innovative feature of your platform) but still out there making people's lives better. I'm fairly certain the same is true of the web generally despite occasional steps backwards with Flash, unsubtitled and untranscribed audio and video etc.

numix 16y ago
As a data point, my grandparents are deaf, and their use of SMS has pretty much replaced TTY Relay, and made it much easier for them to have quick conversation with almost anyone. They still seem to use video chatting within their group of friends with hearing difficulties, but it's reserved for the type of conversations we would have over the phone.

juiceandjuice 16y ago

Okay, here's the full lowdown on how deaf people communicate. Currently, deaf people log somewhere close to 2 million VRS minutes a month. These are services where they talk to a VI (video interpreter) to translate sign language as they call somebody else. This is their native language, and I assure you they prefer it more than any other mode of communication. Many of them absolutely abhor TTY and often relate text messages with that. However there are other services which piggy back off of AIM called IPRelay. This are the only way to communicate on the go, so they are somewhat popular, but nowhere near as popular as VRS. Currently, the only real VRS solutions are point to point from their homes. Some companies have tried to piggy back off of Facetime with little success, largely due to constraints with the wifi and FCC regulations of logging minutes (that's how they get paid) In the coming months, Sorenson (previously the Sorenson in the Sorenson codec http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorenson_codec http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorenson_codec), the largest provider by far of VRS services (more than a factor of 10) will start to unveil their full onslaught of VRS communications to the deaf community. Deaf people will be able to use VRS services on Android, iPhone, PCs and Macs. And not just on wifi, the goal is deployment on 3G and 4G networks, the holy grail, especially because wifi can get really tricky when users are behind firewalls. What does it take for this deployment? Sorenson has a quality requirement of a minimum of 12 fps and sub 1 second latency over 3G and 4G networks, but a goal closer to 15fps. They've been able to meet their goals, and their video puts Qik to shame. Sprint is likely going to license Sorenson's technology because they also provide some of their own branded VRS services. So, will the hearing take to video chat? Maybe, maybe not. But the deaf will. For the first time in their life they'll be able to call anyone from anywhere you and I can, and talk to them in their native language, ASL. I probably wouldn't have said any of this a month ago, but Sorenson started pushing a video teaser for their nTouch brand, which is the brand name for their entire solution (Mobile, PC, and TV based VRS systems)

jallmann 16y ago
VRS vet here. Your email's not in your profile, can you get in touch with me? Joshua dot allmann at gmail.
seanebelanger 16y ago
you are quite a bit off in number of minutes the number is 8 million a month.. you are correct in deaf preference for VRS In regard to Sorenson. ZVRS has already introduced a incredibly high quality product that works on both the droid and the iphone as well as tablets zvrs.com