After my latest experience with the water softener guy (see previous post), Steve and I discussed the idea of using a MVP VRS interpreter in almost any situation where the hearing person has access to a telephone. It seems like a winning solution for everyone. The deaf husband who prefers to sign can sign, the hearing person who prefers to talk can talk, the VRS interpreter who is qualified and getting paid a well-deserved salary gets to do his/her job, and the worn out wife gets to be a wife.
Sunday, Jan 5 – We are invited to visit my sister who also has her daughter, son-in-law, and four grandkids visiting her. Since I am familiar with how these visits turn out, I tell Steve I will go only if I can pretend I am deaf also (because I don’t want to have to interpret). He suggests he bring along his webcam and laptop that has VideoSign installed on it. We can put our theory to the test on my sister. Who better to experiment with than family?
It takes Steve about an hour to get the laptop connected to the internet because of technical difficulties. In the meantime he and my nephew, Clay, communicate by writing. Many hearing people do not want to take the time to write, but Clay says writing is faster than getting the computer set up. I sit back and enjoy playing with my grandniece baby.
Steve finally gets connected and soon he is signing to a VRS interpreter. The interpreter calls my sister’s phone number, the phone rings and Clay answers. Everyone watches while Steve signs to his laptop and Clay talks to Steve as if he on the phone. It’s kind of funny when you are watching it, but as my sister said, “It’s amazing!” I watch the VRS interpreter for a while and wonder how he is able to listen to Clay, watch Steve, sign what Clay is saying, and say what Steve is signing, all at the same time! This is what is amazing to me.
It seemed to work quite well during our family visit and Steve said he had a good time. If this works with my family, it can work for almost any hearing person who has access to a phone and wi-fi. It may have been a little awkward to talk on the phone to someone who is in the same room. I suggest using a phone with speaker. If other people are in the room, they can listen to the conversation. If the deaf person likes to talk, he can speak and the interpreter would hear his voice. It would be the same as voice carry-over. This solution may not work for everyone but it has definite possibilities for us.
Filed under: Communication Issues
Hmm, you are not supposed to use VRS with someone else if they are in the same room. This is not what VRS is designed for.
I do this all of the time with my colleagues in the workplace. However, I just wanted to point out that FCC regulations in general do not allow making video relay calls to individual that are in the same room. But there has been little done to enforce this rule.
Right. I don’t think there is any incentive for VRS companies to enforce this policy as it still benefits them financially. Eventually I think FCC will get wise to this and start enforcing it… but I don’t see how it can be enforced unless it’s really obvious to the VRS operator.
Mishkazena is right – the FCC doesn’t permit VRS calls with someone in the same room. The interpreters are required/supposed to hang up if they recognize that the call is in violation of FCC rules.
In lieu of making VRS calls with someone in the same room – I highly recommend you to check out the UbiDuo devices at this website – its specifically designed for face to face conversation in the same room. http://www.scommonline.com/
A good VRS company will train the VRS interpreter to detect when this happens and ask the customer if they are interpreting for someone in the room and if the customer says yes, then they need to terminate the call. Some VRS companies are much more lax than others- sounds like this is one of them.
ok, thanks guys for your comments. I learn something new every time I post. Every time I think we have a solution to our communication issues, there is yet another barrier.
We were unaware of VRI service, but I don’t think a family get together is worth paying for that service. Steve might feel differently.
Don’t you think it’s a bit ridiculous to require two people who want to talk to each other in their natural languages to be in separate locations? I am having difficulty understanding the reasoning behind this. Does this rule apply if the two people are in different rooms in the same house? I have emailed the FCC and hope for answers.
I also do not see how the interpreter would know if the people are in the same room or in different houses, unless he/she can sense that it’s a conference call. And no we did not use a speaker phone at our family visit.
As far as texting, my husband and I text each other all the time. Sometimes we can get people to text him, but most of the time, they talk. I can’t make people stop talking. Believe me, I wish I could.
VRS is designed to provide access in telecommunications in accordance to Title IV of the ADA. The idea behind this is to charge the telephone companies through a central fund to provide access for Deaf people through the telephone. The money for this fund is collected from consumers through their phone bills. The more money they have to pay, the more they charge us consumers.
With that being said, this is NOT intended to provide interpreting services for family gatherings when they normally would not talk on the telephone with each other in one room. This is considered misuse of these funds.
Hopefully, someday, we will have a service that provides access everywhere- but then, how will this be funded? I would not want to pay higher taxes to pay for this. We are already overextended with our taxes in this economy. I am optimistic that new technologies will make it more and more possible to have this access everywhere.
Wills, Are you deaf or hearing?
I would be more than willing to pay a higher tax for this service. There are plenty of other taxes I can do without.
Why not have the MVP be a paid service same as cell phone service? I am sure my husband would be willing to pay it if he could use it anywhere.
The family gathering was an experiment to see if this would work when he needs an on-demand interpreter even if the person he needs to communicate with is in the same room (such as a home repair guy).
Hi!
I love learning from others, instead of watching DVD’s so any help that you have about the Deaf community here in Utah would be so helpful. Thank you for your time!!
I need some help. I came across your blog because I was using google to find a deaf ward in Provo Utah, and a post you wrote a wile back lead me here. I am hearing, and I have fallen in love with sign language. I had taken a couple classes when I lived in AZ, but we have moved to Provo Utah now, and im a stay at home mom so I have less time to be taking college classes. I really want to find someone that teaches sign language in the evenings or even during the day where I can take my baby. Or even an LDS ward where I can sign with others to help refresh what I already know, and to learn more. You may not be able to help me, but I thought that it couldn’t hurt to ask
Mallory
Hi Mallory,
Go to http://www.deaflds.org. There you will find information for Deaf Wards all over the world. Here is the info for Provo:
Utah Valley (Deaf) Ward.
835 South 500 West, Provo, UT 84601
(801) 370-6832 V/TTY
Sunday Schedule:
11:00 am–2:00 pm (Sac mtg, SS, PH/RS)
Some day Steve and I will visit that ward. Maybe we will see you there.
Julia
I just stumbled across your blog and I am so excited. I just started learning ASL and I love the idea of using the BoM. I also appreciate your perspective as a woman trying to bridge the cultural/linguistic gap. I hope you will keep posting when you get a chance!